Generative AI has brought us truly marvelous innovations recently. From copilots to text summarizers, translators, and more, these tools have greatly streamlined office routines. Not to mention the productivity boosters that eliminate entire chunks of process activities and the incredible visual design tools.
At Entteri, we’ve embraced the hype in our own way. For instance, we’ve developed our AI-powered customer support solution – we call her Helvi. Helvi has already empowered our internal customer support team, and soon, she’ll assist our users directly. In time, she might even handle tasks entirely. Imagine a system that doesn’t just guide you but takes tasks off your plate entirely. The beauty of AI lies in its constant evolution – it never stops delivering new (xylitol) candies.
In the dental digital solutions space, the buzz isn’t so much about generative AI; it’s cantered on machine learning. There are exciting AI-powered medical imaging tools that analyse radiographic images and offer diagnostic insights. These solutions, developed by companies worldwide, can already diagnose caries and other oral issues in both hard and soft tissues. A quick online search for “AI caries detection in X-rays” will reveal plenty of fascinating examples. Beyond this, AI supports doctors by segmenting and recognizing anatomical structures, simulating treatment options, and showcasing aesthetic possibilities.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement over these amazing technologies – they’re genuinely impressive. But the critical question remains: why? What’s the purpose, and what’s the benefit? With any technology, it’s not enough to ask, “What can we do with this?” Instead, we must focus on the customer’s business. What do they need? What problems are they facing? Only by understanding these challenges can we develop or apply technology to address them effectively. Always start with the user, not the technology.
There’s no doubt that dentists benefit from AI reading images faster and with greater precision. However, their ultimate goal isn’t to examine X-rays. These images are merely tools. Dentists aim to help their patients – whether by addressing issues or designing better smiles. Patients have their own expectations (e.g., less pain), and organizations seek more visits and greater value per visit. How does AI contribute to these goals? The future likely holds solutions that go beyond “colored annotations on X-ray images.” These innovations will streamline workflows, integrate systems more deeply, consolidate data from diverse sources, and automate key processes.
At Entteri, our mission is to enhance dentistry through digital solutions, ensuring clinicians’ work is as effective as possible. AI has immense potential to empower them, but for it to be genuinely valuable, we must first understand their true goals, operations, and challenges – beyond the obvious.
Text: Topi Koskinen
Image: Leonardo.Ai