An interview with data science researcher Dr Antonín Tichý

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 7. August 2026

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving rapidly from research and development into dental practice, raising important questions about implementation, accuracy and patient care. At the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress (FDIWDC26), Dr Antonín Tichý, head of data science in the Department of Conservative Dentistry, Periodontology and Digital Dentistry at LMU Hospital in Munich in Germany, will deliver a lecture and take part in a symposium on the use of AI for diagnostics in dentistry. His presentations will offer practical, evidence-based insights into what AI can—and cannot—do for dental practice today. In this interview, Dr Tichý discusses his upcoming presentations.

According to Dr Antonín Tichý, data science head at LMU in Germany, artificial intelligence has the potential to support dental diagnostics, but its value depends on critical evaluation, responsible implementation and a clear understanding of its current limitations. (Image: Dr Antonín Tichý)

Dr Tichý, this year, you will be making your FDI World Dental Congress début as both a speaker and a participant. What drew you to this congress, and what are you expecting from the experience?
I had planned to attend the FDI World Dental Congress in 2020, but it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, conflicting events made it impossible for me to attend. I expect a vibrant atmosphere and diverse perspectives on contemporary dentistry. Although I have experience with international research-oriented events, I anticipate that this congress will be more clinically oriented, and I am looking forward to that.

Are there any sessions in the scientific programme that you are especially looking forward to?
I see many well-known names, but as a Czech native, I am especially enthusiastic about seeing many speakers from the Czech Republic in the programme. Despite their clinical excellence, many of them fly under the radar, so I am excited for them to showcase the best of Czech dentistry.

Your lecture, titled “Implementing artificial intelligence in dental diagnostics: Hype or help?”, will tackle one of the most talked-about topics in dentistry today. Why should dental professionals attend, and what key insights will they gain?
My lecture will give attendees a practical, evidence-based view of what AI can and cannot currently do in dental diagnostics. It will explore how AI influences clinicians’ diagnostic accuracy and decision-making, as well as address the real-world challenges of implementation, including bias, over-reliance and misinterpretation. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of when AI can genuinely support clinical practice, where it continues to have limitations and what factors must be considered to ensure its safe and effective use in dental care.

FDIWDC26 is expected to gather dental professionals, researchers and industry representatives from more than 100 countries. Why is it important to discuss AI in such an international setting, and how can this exchange help bridge the gap between research and clinical practice?
I hope that the lecture will encourage meaningful exchange between researchers and clinicians, as these perspectives are often too disconnected. This gap is particularly visible in the development of AI tools for dentistry, where technical progress has advanced much faster than clinical implementation. An international setting provides an opportunity to compare different experiences, discuss how AI tools can be evaluated critically and consider how promising research can be translated into responsible, real-world dental practice across regions.

“My lecture will give attendees a practical, evidence-based view of what AI can and cannot currently do in dental diagnostics.”

Your presentation, titled “Demystifying diagnostic AI in dentistry: Making informed decisions”, is part of an interactive symposium on AI in which Drs Peter Fritz and Sergio Uribe will also speak. Why are diverse perspectives on this topic important, and what do you hope participants will take from the symposium?
Diverse perspectives on diagnostic AI in dentistry is important because technical performance does not always translate into clinical usefulness and real-world applicability. I hope that hearing different viewpoints will help participants better understand the role of AI in common diagnostic tasks in dentistry, evaluate these tools from a clinical perspective, recognise limitations and red flags, and more confidently distinguish meaningful innovation from empty claims.

Editorial note:

More information about the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress can be found here.