Enhancing cosmetic dental outcomes by using AI

The next evolution in cosmetic dental care is to ensure that objective options are provided. These options must be autonomous and tailored to the wants and needs of the patient. The challenge to the clinician is to avoid being influenced by slick third-party AI-driven software with self-interest or financial bias regarding the treatment to be provided. The clinician needs to uphold the best interests of the patient in demonstrating the pros and cons of all treatment modalities by employing software that is unbiased. The limitations in doing so may be that current software has been created by major corporations with the end objective of promoting the use of their products. There are many current examples of this in implant, restorative and aligner dentistry, for which visualisation of outcomes is based on tools provided through the product being recommended. It is the clinician’s responsibility to offer visual informed consent that transcends treatment modality bias.

AI-powered tools in cosmetic dentistry play a pivotal role in enabling visual informed consent by offering patients a clear and realistic preview of their treatment outcomes. By using advanced smile simulations and 3D modelling, dentists can provide patients with an accurate visual representation of their potential results before any procedure begins. This not only helps patients feel more confident and empowered in their decisions but also minimises misunderstandings or unmet expectations. For the cosmetic dentist, this process fosters trust, improves communication and reduces the likelihood of post-treatment dissatisfaction, ultimately enhancing both patient relationships and professional reputation.

Currently, we are seeing AI-generated software that is product-driven. These programs are revolutionising the digital workflow and patient presentations, but demonstrate developer self-interest and bias in their treatment recommendations. Until now, there has been no software that can assist and promote the end in mind that allows objective and transparent treatment options or multidisciplinary solutions without commercial bias. In demonstration of this new option, let us consider a typical patient who presents with a social media-based perception of her dream smile.

Case study

A female patient in her twenties presented wanting the perfect Instagram smile (Fig. 1). Motivated by social media trends fuelling the strong demand for cosmetic dentistry, she believed that her only solution was whitening and veneers. Upon examination, we identified that the patient presented with an uneven gummy smile of 2–4 mm from the maxillary anterior eight teeth; upper midline deviation to the left; bilaterally highly placed maxillary canines; a narrow maxillary arch with moderately prominent and unequal buccal corridors; and a Class II skeletal pattern and dental relationship.

Current technological innovations can produce treatment visualisation within seconds for aligners or for veneers that require invasive gingivectomy and irreversible preparation. The currently available software products create single-option results based on a product bias rather than starting with the end in mind and then devising how to achieve the best-practice outcome. This is what objective visual informed consent can achieve, and the clinician should aspire to seek technology that better enables this goal and better supports the patient–clinician conversation.

How do you use Smile Geni?

Smile Geni is incredibly easy to use. Simply upload a selfie photograph of the patient’s smiling face, and the AI technology takes care of the rest. Within seconds, Smile Geni generates a digitally enhanced version of the patient’s smile, showcasing optimal facial aesthetics. This gives both the clinician and patient a preview of the potential transformation, helping to establish an emotional connection. Once that connection is made, the next step is planning of the ideal smile transformation.

For this, you will engage with Smile Geni 3D. Simply upload the patient’s full set of photographs, intra-oral scans and, if available, a third-party aligner software plan to Smile Geni 3D. The software will then generate an interactive visual plan, demonstrating how the smile transformation can be achieved. If needed, you can also request virtual mentorship or a second opinion to guide your next steps, ensuring that you deliver the patient’s Smile Geni wow!

Why use Smile Geni?

Smile Geni ignites the smile transformation journey between the patient and clinician by instantly enhancing the patient’s smile to the optimal facial aesthetics in seconds. By providing the patient with a glimpse of the potential smile transformation, the clinician can effectively communicate treatment options and develop the patient’s emotional connection to his or her smile transformation journey.

How does Smile Geni compare with other software?

Smile Geni stands out owing to its advanced AI-powered technology, which enables instant smile transformation. While others may offer similar services, Smile Geni’s innovative approach provides unparalleled speed and accuracy in enhancing patients’ smiles. Once you create the wow! with your patient and establish an emotional connection with the result in mind, the next step is to focus on creating the plan for how to achieve that ideal smile transformation. With virtual mentorship and smile simulation tools, you can create the plan by uploading STL files, CBCT data and photographs. These resources allow you to plan and visualise the exact steps needed to achieve the desired smile transformation, ensuring a seamless process from simulation to treatment.