Artificial intelligence reads dental X-rays in seconds. It finds decay earlier, plans surgery more precisely, and helps patients understand what is happening inside their teeth.
By London Dental Specialists Editorial Team
In a hurry ? Here are the key notes to know:
- AI catches more decay, earlier: Studies show AI finds 37% more disease than dentists working alone. About 43% of cavities go undetected without it.
- Results arrive in under two minutes: The software reads and marks up X-rays while you sit in the chair.
- It works across specialties: Implant surgery, gum disease, root canals, braces — AI supports diagnosis and planning across all of them.
- Two tools lead the market: Pearl AI and Overjet hold FDA clearance. UK practices can also access AssistDent and iTero NIRI scanners.
What AI Does That Human Eyes Can Miss
Dentists are skilled. They are also human. Research shows the same dentist can read the same X-ray differently on two separate days. Between two different dentists, disagreement is even more common.
AI does not have that problem. It reads every image the same way, every time. It does not get tired at the end of a long clinic day.
An AI assisted X-Ray in Action at London Dental Specialists, the Colour Highlights Show The AI Assistance with Dental X-Rays
The numbers back this up. AI detects early-stage tooth decay at a rate of 76.5%. Dentists working without AI detect it at 46.6%. That gap means real cavities go untreated, then grow, then cost far more to fix.
“AI technology has been a game changer in our practice. We detect early lesions that we might have missed with traditional visual examination alone. We intervene earlier, provide less invasive treatment, and reduce costs for our patients.” — Dr Ope Sodeinde, Specialist in Periodontics, London Dental Specialists
Dr Sodeinde has 20 years of experience in complex dental surgery. He started testing AI X-ray tools several years ago and has reviewed multiple platforms. His view: AI does not replace clinical skill. It supports it.
The Tools Dentists Are Using
The global dental AI market was worth $421 million in 2024 and is forecast to reach $3.1 billion by 2034. Two platforms have earned the most regulatory trust.
Pearl AI launched in 2019 in California. It holds clearance in over 120 countries and raised $58 million in 2023. Its product, Second Opinion, was the first AI software cleared by the FDA to read dental X-rays at chairside. It scans for cavities, bone loss, infections, calculus, and worn fillings — across 2D and, since May 2025, full 3D CBCT scans. Pearl holds CE marking and MHRA registration for the UK. Pricing starts at around $299 to $500 per month.
Overjet is another dental AI company that grew out of MIT in 2018. It holds 10 FDA clearances, the most in dental AI, and draws colour-coded markings on X-rays with millimetre-level bone measurements. A peer-reviewed study in Nature Scientific Reports (2025) tested Overjet across 340,000 patients at 2,558 US dental practices. Dentists using it missed 45% fewer cavities. Overjet received FDA clearance for 3D CBCT scanning in December 2025. More than 33,000 dental professionals now use the platform.
UK practices have two strong options. AssistDent, a spin-out from the University of Manchester, is the only UK-developed dental AI published in a peer-reviewed journal (the British Dental Journal, 2021), priced at £199 plus VAT per month. Align Technology’s iTero scanners use near-infrared light to detect decay between teeth without any X-ray radiation.
By the numbers: Pearl reports 37% more disease detected. Overjet data shows 45% fewer missed cavities. The HC-Net+ study in Nature npj Digital Medicine (2025) found junior dentists using AI diagnosed gum disease as accurately as specialists, scoring 94.2% versus the specialists’ 85.6%.
What a Better AI X-ray Means for Dental Implants and Dental Surgery
Placing dental implants safely requires knowing exactly where nerves, sinuses, and bone sit. A millimetre matters. AI-powered 3D scanning gives surgeons that precision before any instrument is used.
Dr. Ope Sodeinde and his dental team of specialist dentists at London Dental Specialists approach every dental patient’s case through a periodontal lens first when they provide dental implants in London. Healthy gums and stable bone determine whether an implant will last. AI-powered 3D scanning gives Dr. Ope Sodeinde the exact picture he needs — bone density, nerve position, sinus clearance — before treatment begins. A millimetre matters. Having that data before any instrument is used changes what is possible for the patient.
With the clear dental insights for the patient, the dental implants analysis then gets passed through into dental implant technology with AI assisted planning is deeper than just your normal AI chat, Planmeca Romexis 7 produces a complete implant plan in 9 seconds, locating the mandibular nerve automatically and designing the surgical guide for review from a dental implant dentist. AI also detects vertical root fractures — cracks that standard X-rays miss more than half the time — at 91.4 to 97.8% accuracy. Knowing a tooth is fractured before surgery begins changes the entire plan, often shifting the decision from attempted repair to immediate implant planning.
Finding What Hides in Three Dimensions for Root Canal Treatments
A flat X-ray compresses a three-dimensional tooth into a single image. Accessory canals, hairline cracks, and early infections can hide behind overlapping anatomy. AI-assisted 3D imaging reads the full structure and flags what the 2D image misses.
This matters most for when Dr. Nicky Dehbonei provides Endodontic treatments at London Dental Specialists such as root canals in London. Root canals fail when hidden anatomy goes undetected. Dr Nicky Dehbonei, trained at the University of Manchester Dental School, uses AI-supported 3D imaging for every complex case. Patients receive a full picture of the problem before treatment starts.
Planning Braces and Aligners With Accurate Data
Orthodontic treatment planning traditionally starts with 15 to 30 minutes of manual measurement on skull X-rays. AI measures those same landmarks in seconds, within 2mm of expert accuracy, which then gives a streamlined head start orthodontists providing accurately measured braces, and aligners.
Dr Kia Papagalani, specialist orthodontist at London Dental Specialists with 27 years of experience, applies AI analysis to every braces or aligners treatment she builds for providing orthodontics in London. The precise skeletal data AI provides matters especially for adult cases, where small measurement errors have real consequences. Fewer surprises mid-treatment means fewer adjustments, shorter treatment times, and better results.
The Bottom Line
AI X-ray tools are cleared by regulators and backed by published research. They find more problems, find them earlier, and help patients understand what is happening in their mouths. Pearl and Overjet both gained FDA clearance for 3D scanning in 2025. Future systems will flag patients at risk before a cavity forms.
For patients choosing a specialist practice, one question matters: Does your dentist use AI to read your scans? At London Dental Specialists, the answer is yes.
About London Dental Specialists
London Dental Specialists is a specialist referral practice in Central London. The practice covers implant dentistry, periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, and prosthodontics. Dr. Ope Sodeinde, Specialist in Periodontics with over 20 years of experience, leads the team. The practice uses AI-assisted X-ray analysis, 3D CBCT imaging, and computer-guided surgery.
The team includes Dr Nicky Dehbonei (Specialist in Endodontics), Dr Kia Papagalani (Specialist Orthodontist), and Florentina Ciuchea (Dental Therapist). Services cover dental implants, All-on-4/6/X full arch rehabilitation, periodontal therapy, bone grafting, Invisalign, root canal therapy, and smile rehabilitation, among 200+ other dental services that we also offer.
London Dental Specialists
111 Regent’s Park Road, Central London, NW1 8UR
www.London-Dental-Specialists.co.uk
