Reviewed by Dr Michael Zybutz and Dr Anthony Zybutz, co-founders of David Neal Dental

Artificial intelligence and its applications in dentistry is one of the most talked-about developments in dentistry today, and patients are right to ask what it means for their personal treatment.

As the co-founders of David Neal Dental, we use AI and advanced digital technology extensively to support the planning of both complex dental procedures such as Teeth in a Day dental implants and in our general dental treatments.

But we’re just as deliberate about where we choose not to use it.

In this blog we outline where we use AI to help treat our patients more safely and precisely, and where we believe human assessment, experience and empathy can’t be replaced by machine learning – at least in the immediate future.

Our dental AI philosophy

We approach modern dentistry AI in the same way as any new piece of technology: does it make treatment safer, more precise or more predictable for our patients, without removing the human judgement and accountability that safe dental care depends on?

Our qualified clincians review every AI-assisted tool, whether dental images, radiographic analysis, a design suggestion or a planning recommendation, before it plays any part in a patient’s treatment.

We only adopt new tools where we see a clear benefit to patients in all our dental practices.

We believe technology should enhance our clinical work and personalised approach to patient care.

It should never be used as a substitute for the clinicians themselves.

The benefits of AI in implant dentistry

“I’ve been placing dental implants for over 30 years,” says specialist periodontist, and lead surgeon, Dr Michael Zybutz.

“Successful implant treatment, particularly full arch restoration, depends on an accurate picture of a patient’s bone, nerves and soft tissue before a single incision is made.

“At David Neal Dental we’ve used AI to write our own software to create even more accurate and smooth-running processes,” says Dr Michael.

“AI note-taking systems free clinicians up from time-consuming hand-typed notes during and after consultations, so we can spend more time focusing on our patients face to face and understanding their needs. Conversations are recorded, so nothing gets missed in treatment decisions.

It’s surprising how much additional time it gives us to focus on our patients.”

Radiographic and AI-assisted scan analysis

Cone beam CT (CBCT) scanning gives us a three-dimensional view of a patient’s jaw that standard X-rays can’t provide. AI tools help analyse radiographic data quickly, highlighting bone density, bone volume and the position of nerves and sinuses for the treating surgeon to review and assess in detail.

The software doesn’t make clinical decisions. It provides information faster and more consistently, so the surgeon can spend more time interpreting it to make the best treatment decisions.

In short, AI can help improve accuracy by highlighting areas that may be missed, but diagnostic decisions are always made by our highly qualified and experienced team.

Understanding your medical history and treatment suitability

Part of ensuring a patient is suitable for implant treatment is understanding their overall health and any medical conditions that need to be considered.

“Where a patient has a complex medical history, we always liaise directly with their doctor or medical specialist to confirm it’s safe to proceed,” says Dr Michael.

“That conversation is led by us, clinician to clinician, and is never delegated to an automated system.

“Many patients today are managed on advanced medications, including biologics used to treat auto-immune conditions, cancer and other serious illnesses.

These are complex drugs with implications for surgery and healing. AI-assisted tools can help us pull together relevant information about a medication quickly, so we go into that conversation with a patient’s doctor as informed as possible.

“This doesn’t replace that conversation; it prepares us for it.

The decision on whether it’s safe to proceed always rests with us as clinicians, working directly with the patient’s wider medical team, not with any software.”

Digital design of your new teeth

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Digital planning of a full arch restoration

Digital design tools, some AI-assisted, can propose an initial shape, size and arrangement of teeth when designing a patient’s new smile, using facial proportions and existing dentition as the basis.

“We review that as a starting point then work directly with the patient to refine the look and feel of the new teeth,” says Dr Anthony, an advanced aesthetic dentist and co-founder of David Neal Dental.

“We’ve worked with thousands of patients and know the final aesthetic decision is personal, not something a machine can decide on someone’s behalf.

Creating a natural smile is both art and science and it’s an important part of the personalised care we offer.”

Creating your new teeth: Smiling Arches, our in-house dental laboratory

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Dental restorations are crafted by skilled technicians

Every implant restoration at David Neal Dental is created at Smiling Arches, our fully-owned dental laboratory.

Our technicians are craftsmen and artists as much as they’re technicians, and we believe that distinction matters.

They use AI where it genuinely enhances technique and the final result for the patient, not as a default or a shortcut.

Every set of teeth they create is bespoke, built around an individual patient’s face, smile line and personality, not produced from a standard template.

It’s a process requiring attention to detail and a pride in creating a smile and teeth that look right for each individual person.

AI-assisted tools can help with parts of the process but when used too heavily, AI-generated design can produce teeth that are technically accurate yet aesthetically bland and homogenous.

At Smiling Arches, it’s that final layer of human eye, artistry and craftsmanship that turns an accurate restoration into a genuinely natural-looking result.

This approach illustrates how we use AI across the David Neal Dental Group i.e. where it improves precision or efficiency, but we prioritise craftsmanship and human judgement to deliver the best results and experiences for our patients.

Consultations and treatment planning discussions

Your first conversation about treatment options, and every subsequent discussion about your plan, takes place in person with one of our clinicians, never through an automated system.

AI may help us prepare, but the conversation itself, and the recommendations that come from it, is always led by a qualified clinician who prioritises your personal oral healthcare.

Specialist periodontist Dr Michael Zybutz and dental implant nurse, Maria Konkolava, review a patient scan using AI technology

How we use AI in general dental care

“Beyond implant surgery, AI-assisted tools are increasingly used across the practice of dentistry more broadly, including periodontics and orthodontics. We use them where they add genuine value,” says Dr Anthony:

  • AI-assisted analysis of dental X-rays, flagging areas that may indicate decay, bone loss or other issues for the dentist to examine closely.
  • Software that helps track changes in a patient’s gum health or bone levels over time, supporting the clinician’s own assessment rather than replacing it.
  • Digital scanning and modelling tools that reduce the need for traditional impressions, improving comfort and accuracy.

In every case, we use these tools to support, not make, decisions.

Just as important as where we use AI applications is where we choose not to, because some areas of dental care depend entirely on human judgement and connection.

Diagnosis and clinical decision-making

AI tools can highlight patterns in a scan or flag something worth a closer look, but they don’t diagnose or decide on treatment plans.

That sits with a GDC-registered clinician who is accountable for the outcome, every time.

On-going patient care discussions

We want our patients to feel totally involved in their treatment at David Neal Dental, especially for more complex procedures like Teeth in a Day.

Consultations are held in person. Aftercare, follow-up and answering concerns during healing are handled by our clinical team.

What training does your team have in AI, and how do you stay up to date with new developments?

AI in dentistry is developing quickly. Keeping abreast of the latest research through dental journals and study groups ensures continuous learning about developments in the industry.

We also work closely with our software and laboratory partners, so any new AI-supported tools are properly understood, tested and validated by our team, ensuring they’re used appropriately and safely.

Guidance from professional dental bodies

Dental regulators and professional bodies are actively researching and developing AI guidance, and we follow developments closely.

In the UK, the General Dental Council commissioned a Rapid Evidence Assessment on AI in dental service provision, published in August 2025. It reviewed international evidence on how AI is currently used in dental care, along with the benefits, risks and the areas still to be addressed.

The British Dental Association offers guidance on “Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Dental Practice” covering operational advice as well as GDPR implications when inputting patient records into software.

In the United States, the American Dental Association published the first ANSI-approved standard specifically for AI in dentistry, alongside a report evaluating AI-based dental image analysis systems and an earlier white paper covering AI and augmented intelligence in dentistry, including dental implant planning.

AI and continual learning

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a legal requirement in the UK for all qualified dental professionals, helping them keep their skills current and up to date with technological advancements. AI features increasingly in continuing education.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) and commercial CPD learning hubs offer AI-specific lectures, digital workshops and certified online modules. They include how to analyse AI-marked radiographs for tooth decay detection and how to integrate AI diagnostic software into in-practice workflows.

In the US, continuing education is usually known as Continuing Dental Education (CDE).

AI related sessions include those run by specialist bodies such as the American Board of Periodontology, and forums like the American Dental Society of London, where dental professionals meet to debate developments in the dental industry.

On-going dental board verification

Staying current is a formal, on-going requirement of specialist status. As a specialist periodontist registered on multiple dental specialist boards, Dr Michael is required to complete quarterly verification to remain board certified.

The American Board of Periodontology, for example, requires diplomates to answer 15 in-depth questions with a minute to answer each question covering the full scope of the specialty every quarter, alongside continuing education points and discussion groups designed to keep knowledge current. Each question leads to research and discussion / feedback on that topic.

It’s a rigorous, on-going process rather than a one-off qualification, and it’s this standard of continuous learning that we apply to how we evaluate and understand new technology, including AI.

Keeping abreast of wider medical AI research

We also follow medical research into AI beyond dentistry, because it shows us where the technology is genuinely making a difference.

An example is the Swedish MASAI trial, the first large trial of its kind, published in The Lancet, which looked at AI-assisted breast cancer screening.

Early results showed that using AI helped detect cancers earlier, without leading to more false alarms.

A later analysis found that AI, working alongside a radiologist, picked up more cancers than the usual approach of having two radiologists check each scan, while staying just as accurate.

This research is still ongoing and being added to all the time, so we see it as evolving evidence rather than a final answer, but it’s a good real-world example of AI, used well and alongside expert oversight, helping to catch more problems earlier.

What this means for your treatment

If you’re considering dental implant treatment, questions worth asking your dentist include:

  • Where in my treatment is AI or digital technology being used, and where is it not?
  • Who reviews the output of any AI-assisted tool before it informs my treatment plan?
  • Will I always be speaking to, and treated by, a qualified human clinician?

At David Neal Dental, technology supports our team, it doesn’t replace them. Every decision about your oral health and care is made and owned by a highly trained, experienced clinician focused on the best treatment for you.

FAQ – How we use AI in your treatment

Does AI make the diagnosis for my dental treatment?

No. AI tools can highlight areas of a radiograph or X-ray that may be worth a closer look, but the diagnosis and treatment recommendation always come from a GDC-registered clinician.

Why it matters: A diagnosis carries real consequences for your treatment and your health. It should always be made by a qualified professional who is accountable for that decision, not a piece of software.

Is AI used to plan my dental implant surgery?

AI is used to scan radiographs and scans and to provide an initial overview. The actual treatment planning is performed by experienced clinicians using the data from both the X-rays and AI.

Is AI used to design how my new teeth will look?

Digital design tools can propose an initial shape and arrangement for your new teeth but, at David Neal Dental, we review that proposal and refine it in partnership with our patients.

Why it matters: The look of your new smile is a very personal decision and makes a difference to how you feel. A starting point generated by software still needs a clinician – and you – to shape it into the right result for your face and preferences.

Does AI help spot problems a human might miss?

It can act as a useful check, flagging areas on a scan for closer attention. Every flagged area is then further examined and interpreted by a qualified clinician.

Why it matters: A second set of eyes, even a digital one, can add value, but only if a human expert has the final say on what it means for your care.

Does AI replace my consultation with the dentist?

No. Every consultation and treatment planning discussion at David Neal Dental is led in person by one of our clinicians.

Why it matters: A consultation involves understanding your history, concerns and goals, not just your scan data. That requires a conversation with a person, not an automated process.

How is AI used in my aftercare?

Aftercare – the time after your surgery – is an important phase in your treatment. AI-assisted tools may support scheduling or tracking routine follow-ups, but any clinical assessment of how you are healing, and any decisions arising from it, are made by our clinical team.

After implant surgery, we give every patient the number of their surgeon or dentist, and their treatment co-ordinator. There’s always a real person on hand to help if you have any concerns or questions – 24 hours a day. It’s part of the personal service we offer.

Who is responsible if something goes wrong?

Issues at David Neal Dental are rare, but if something doesn’t go to plan your dentist is accountable, not the software.

Every AI-assisted output is reviewed by a qualified specialist who takes responsibility for the final decision.

Why it matters: Knowing that a named, GDC-registered clinician stands behind every decision in your treatment, rather than an algorithm, should give you confidence in the process.

How do you decide which AI tools to use?

New tools are always evaluated by our clinical team, and only used where there is a clear, evidenced benefit to precision, safety or patient experience.

Why it matters: Not every new technology is worth adopting. We prefer to use fewer tools well than add technology for its own sake.

Is my data safe when AI tools are used?

Yes. Any digital or AI-assisted tool used in your care is subject to the same data protection standards and confidentiality obligations as the rest of your dental record.

Why it matters: Your scans, images and personal information are sensitive so you should expect the same standard of protection whether they are reviewed by a person or processed by software.

Will AI ever replace the specialist treating me?

We don’t think so – at least at the moment – although advances in AI are moving fast. As it stands, AI supports our dentist’s judgement and skill; it’s not a substitute for their training, experience or accountability.

Why it matters: The single biggest factor in a successful outcome for complex implant treatment remains the depth of expertise behind it, not the technology used alongside it.

What should I ask my dentist about AI?

  • How do you use AI or digital technology in my treatment?
  • Do you use AI to make decisions, or as an aid?
  • Is treatment planning done by AI or a qualified clinician?
  • Who reviews the AI output before it informs my care?
  • Will I always be treated by a qualified human clinician?

Why it matters: These questions apply whichever practice you choose. A confident, transparent answer is a good sign; hesitation or vague reassurance is worth probing further.

Book your free Teeth in a Day dental implant consultation

If you would like to discuss your options and suitability for Teeth in a Day implants, contact the David Neal Dental team.

Book your free Teeth in a Day consultation today.