New AI mannequin for screening gingivitis developed in Hong Kong

A global examine led by researchers on the College of Dentistry of the College of Hong Kong has developed and examined a brand new AI mannequin for screening gingivitis, or gum irritation, from photographs contained in the mouth. 

FINDINGS

The examine, which is likely one of the first to discover the usage of AI in recognizing gingivitis, made use of 550 gum photographs with various levels of irritation. 

Based mostly on findings, which had been printed within the Worldwide Dental Journal, the official journal of the World Dental Federation, the novel AI mannequin is ready to establish indicators of irritation, reminiscent of redness, swelling, and bleeding, alongside the gum with over 90% accuracy. 

Researchers from Hong Kong Chu Hai Faculty’s Division of Pc Science, the Faculty of Info Engineering at Guangdong College of Expertise, and the Nationwide College of Malaysia’s College of Dentistry had been additionally concerned within the examine.

WHY IT MATTERS

Gum irritation is a key indicator of periodontal illness. Having the ability to detect it early helps within the prevention and administration of adjoining oral and systemic ailments, together with tooth loss, cardiovascular ailments, and diabetes.

The analysis workforce is now trying to increase the applying of their AI mannequin to neighborhood companies, elevating entry to dental care among the many aged and underserved communities.

THE LARGER TREND

Dentistry has seen elevated utility of AI lately, from detecting cavities to predicting therapy outcomes to designing synthetic tooth.

In the USA, startups like VideaHealth and Overjet have developed AI-powered instruments that additionally help in detecting periodontal ailments. Pearl has not too long ago introduced its FDA-approved AI diagnostic assist software Second Opinion to Australia and New Zealand. 

ON THE RECORD

“Many sufferers don’t attend common dental check-ups, and so they solely search dentists to alleviate ache when their tooth are on the finish stage of dental ailments, by which tooth loss is inevitable, and solely costly rehabilitative therapies can be found. Our examine exhibits that AI could be a worthwhile screening software in detecting and diagnosing gum illness, one of many key indicators of periodontal illness, permitting earlier intervention and higher well being outcomes for the inhabitants,” Dr Walter Yu-Dangle Lam, one of many examine’s lead researchers, defined.