Federal Grant given to the University of Rochester's Computer Science and Environmental Health Sciences departments to minimize oral health inequalities by applying Artificial Intelligence.
A groundbreaking three-year study is underway at the University of Rochester, with scientists developing a smartphone app to detect tooth decay, particularly targeting underserved racial and ethnic minorities without access to dental care. The project, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), is part of the project SMARTeeth, which aims to close oral health disparity gaps.
The app, set to be a game-changer in dental health, allows users to secure a virtual dental visit if tooth decay is detected. The harmful short- and long-term effects of tooth decay have a substantial adverse impact on children, families, and healthcare systems, and this innovative app could help combat the rise of Early Childhood Caries, a common preventable disease on the rise worldwide.
The study's primary goals also include empowering community self-care by reorienting health services from curative to preventive. Jiebo Luo, PhD, a professor at the University of Rochester's Computer Science department and the principal investigator, stated the primary goal of the study is to create supportive environments outside the traditional dental care setting.
The app development involves the use of AI technology to achieve population-wide dental screening and early detection. Data collection, establishment of interactive oral health community centers, and development of methods to effectively reach, motivate, and empower families to use the app are part of the study's objectives.
The infrastructure includes interactive oral health community centers, mobile vans, and community health workers. The study aims to promote prevention, early detection, and treatment of tooth decay, reducing the severity of tooth decay and dental disease-related emergencies.
In addition to Dr. Luo, the study's principal investigators include Michael Mendoza, MD, MPH, Monroe County's Public Health commissioner, Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH, professor of Family Medicine, and Timothy Dye, PhD, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The experts involved in the study will continue to refine the technology during the three years.
The use of AI technology in the study aims to increase accessibility to dental care in areas where traditional services are limited. Future developments may include integration with electronic health records and WhatsApp-based interfaces for dental apps, further increasing accessibility by leveraging widely used communication platforms.
Moreover, the study could lead to the development of cost-effective treatments, such as regenerative tissue printing for teeth and gums, potentially reducing costs and accelerating healing. The use of AI and 3D printing for bio-printed restorations could revolutionize dental treatments by providing customized, biocompatible solutions that speed healing and reduce costs.
This research on smartphone apps for tooth decay detection is progressing, with a focus on improving accessibility and oral health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. As the study progresses, it is hoped that the innovative app will significantly improve dental health outcomes for millions of children and families worldwide.
[1] Dental Diet Diary: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46659-0 [2] AI-Enabled Oral Score by Overjet: https://www.overjet.com/ [3] Smart Toothbrush and App Integration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6563369/
- The smartphone app, powered by artificial intelligence, will not only detect tooth decay but also offer virtual dental visits, aiming to bridge oral health disparities among underserved racial and ethnic minorities.
- The study's objectives encompass data collection, the development of interactive oral health community centers, and methods to effectively reach and empower families to utilize the app, all aimed at preventive health services.
- By leveraging technology such as data and cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI, the study aims to increase accessibility to dental care in traditionally underserved areas, eventually integrating with electronic health records and WhatsApp-based interfaces for dental apps.
- Future advancements could see the implementation of cost-effective treatments like regenerative tissue printing for teeth and gums, as well as the use of AI and 3D printing for bio-printed restorations, potentially revolutionizing dental treatments in terms of speed, cost, and customization.
