Dugoni School of Dentistry and OraQ AI Launch Research Project on AI in Clinical Decision Making

 

The Center for Innovation and Translation at the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is partnering with OraQ AI to launch a research project exploring the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry. The initial focus is on enhancing consistency in clinical decision-making among dental faculty.

The primary goal of the study, spearheaded by the Center for Innovation and Translation, is to evaluate how well OraQ’s AI-driven software improves agreement levels among Dugoni School faculty clinicians. OraQ is designed to assist in treatment assessment, risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning, with the aim of increasing consistency and accuracy in clinical decisions.

According to the project leaders, consistency in decision-making is essential for ensuring uniform patient care, improving treatment outcomes, and standardizing the teaching and learning process. However, traditional methods used by faculty for decision-making often struggle to achieve high levels of agreement. This study compares these traditional methods with AI-assisted ones, specifically using OraQ, to determine if AI can help make clinical decisions more consistent and accurate, ultimately improving faculty calibration.

“This partnership with OraQ AI marks an important step toward integrating AI into dental education and clinical practice at the Dugoni School of Dentistry,” said Rebecca Moazzez,  BDS, MSc, PhD,  FDSRCS, MRD, chair of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry and director of the school’s Center for Innovation and Translation, which plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration between industry and academia.

“This work supports a forward-thinking approach to dental education, encouraging faculty, students, and residents to explore and adopt new technology to support precision care and improved patient engagement,” she added.

To launch the partnership, OraQ AI CEO and founder Dr. Amreesh Khanna recently gave a lecture on the integration of AI in dentistry to students and faculty at the Dugoni School. He discussed how advancements in AI and technology, including tools like ChatGPT, are reshaping patient care. The session also emphasized AI’s role in comprehensive health evaluations, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and creating holistic treatment strategies.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in innovation and dental education,” said Dr. Amreesh Khanna. “Incorporating AI support will play a major role in the future of patient care. Utilizing AI technology ethically to drive precision care will allow for optimal outcomes. This research partnership is the first step toward bringing this technology to students, faculty, alumni, and patients, ensuring it drives the best results for patients while fostering healthy dental practices for the future.”

While this first project focuses on faculty, there is potential to expand future research to include students and alumni.