Artificial intelligence (AI) holds immense promise in revolutionising dentistry, spanning, diagnostics, treatment planning and educational realms. This narrative review, in two parts, explores the fundamentals and the multifaceted potential of AI in dentistry. The current article explores the profound impact of AI in dentistry, encompassing diagnostic tools, treatment planning, and patient care. The Part 2 of the article delves into the potential of AI in patient education, ethics and the FDI communique on AI in dentistry. The review begins by elucidating the historical context of AI, outlining its recent widespread use in various sectors, including medicine and dentistry. The narrative delves into the fundamental concepts of AI, which entails developing machines capable of executing tasks that typically necessitate human intellect. In the biomedical realm, AI has evolved from exploring computational models to constructing systems for clinical data processing and interpretation, aiming to enhance medical/dental decision-making. The discussion delves into the pivotal role of AI models in dentistry, such as Large Language Models (LLM), Large Vision Models (LVM), and Multimodality Models (MM), revolutionizing processes from clinical documentation to treatment planning. The narrative extends to the applications of AI in dental specialties such as periodontics, endodontics, oral medicine and pathology, restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, paediatric dentistry, forensic odontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, and orofacial pain management. AI's role in improving treatment outcomes, diagnostic accuracy, and decision-making processes is evident across these specialties, showcasing its potential in transforming dental care. The review concludes by highlighting the need for continued validation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and regulatory frameworks to ensure the seamless integration of AI into dentistry, paving the way for enhanced patient outcomes and evidence-based practice in the field.

In the final part of this two part article on artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry we review its transformative role, focusing on AI in dental education, patient communications, challenges of integration, strategies to overcome barriers, ethical considerations, and finally, the recently released International Dental Federation (FDI) Communique (white paper) on AI in Dentistry. AI in dental education is highlighted for its potential in enhancing theoretical and practical dimensions, including patient telemonitoring and virtual training ecosystems. Challenges of AI integration in dentistry are outlined, such as data availability, bias, and human accountability. Strategies to overcome these challenges include promoting AI literacy, establishing regulations, and focusing on specific AI implementations. Ethical considerations in AI integration within dentistry, such as patient privacy and algorithm bias, are emphasized. The need for clear guidelines and ongoing evaluation of AI systems is crucial. The FDI White Paper on AI in Dentistry provides insights into the significance of AI in oral care, dental education, and research, along with standards for governance. It discusses AI's impact on individual patients, community health, dental education, and research. The paper addresses biases, limited generalizability, accessibility, and regulatory requirements for AI in dental practice. In conclusion, AI plays a significant role in modern dental care, offering benefits in diagnosis, treatment planning, and decision-making. While facing challenges, strategic initiatives focusing on AI literacy, regulations, and targeted implementations can help overcome barriers and maximize the potential of AI in dentistry. Ethical considerations and ongoing evaluation are essential for ensuring responsible, effective and efficacious deployment of AI technologies in dental ecosystem.

Fluoride is a natural element recognized for its dental benefits. Fluoride prevents caries due to its antimicrobial activity, enhancing enamel resistance and promoting remineralization After decades of fluoridation of municipal water supplies to reduce dental caries, an intense debate has resurfaced regarding water fluoridation as a public health strategy to combat caries. This renewed discourse occurs against the backdrop of extensive data that clearly demonstrate the vital role of fluoride in caries prevention. Indeed, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has stated water fluoridation as one of the top ten public health interventions in the twentieth century. The FDI World Dental Federation also advocates systemic fluoride use as a cost-effective caries prevention strategy, and supports its inclusion in public health policies through a number of policy directives. This debate in the US has intensified as a Court concluded that water fluoridation poses unreasonable risks such as reduction of the intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. Additionally, recent statements from the leadership of the US Health and Human Services agency suggest that water fluoridation may cause more harm than good leading some states, like Utah, to revoke fluoridation mandates This article aims to provide a contemporary perspective on fluoride by revisiting its benefits, controversies, and potential risks. It highlights the dual role of fluoride in both individual oral care and public health and underscores the necessity for safe, equitable, and effective delivery strategies tailored to the needs of diverse populations, balancing its preventive advantages with potential health concerns. The review culminates with a summary of policy statements from the FDI World Dental Federation regarding the promotion of oral health through both systemic and topical fluoridation.

Conventional dentistry faces limitations in preserving tooth health due to the finite lifespan of restorative materials. Regenerative dentistry, utilizing stem cells and bioactive materials, offers a promising approach for regenerating dental tissues. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and bioactive materials like calcium phosphate (CaP) and silicate-based materials have shown potential for dental tissue regeneration. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of CaP and silicate-based materials on hDPSCs through in vitro studies published since 2015. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search strategy was implemented in PubMed MedLine, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect databases. Eligibility criteria were established using the PICOS scheme. Data extraction and risk of bias (RoB) assessment were conducted, with the included studies assessed for bias using the Office of Health and Translation (OHAT) RoB tool. The research has been registered at OSF Registries. Ten in vitro studies met the eligibility criteria out of 1088 initial studies. Methodological heterogeneity and the use of self-synthesized biomaterials with limited generalizability were observed in the included study. The findings highlight the positive effect of CaP and silicate-based materials on hDPSCs viability, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. While the overall RoB assessment indicated satisfactory credibility of the reviewed studies, the limited number of studies and methodological heterogeneity pose challenges for quantitative research. In conclusion, this systematic review provides valuable insights into the effects of CaP and silicate-based materials on hDPSCs. Further research is awaited to enhance our understanding and optimize regenerative dental treatments using bioactive materials and hDPSCs, which promise to improve patient outcomes.

Introduction: Streptococcus mutans is central to plaque-induced oral diseases due to its robust biofilm-forming ability. Understanding the genetic and regulatory basis of this process is critical for developing targeted anti-virulence strategies that preserve the balance of the oral microbiome. This systematic review aims to gather and evaluate existing evidence on the virulence genes associated with Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation.Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies investigating the genetic and regulatory mechanisms of biofilm formation, as well as the effects of experimental treatments, were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the QUIN tool.Results: Key virulence genes were identified, including glucosyltransferases (gtfB, gtfC, gtfD), glucan-binding proteins (gbpB, gbpC), and two-component systems (vicRK, liaSR). These genes contribute to adhesion, extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, and environmental adaptation, processes critical for biofilm development. Various anti-virulence strategies, such as quorum sensing inhibitors and gene-targeted compounds, show promise in controlling biofilm formation without compromising bacterial viability, thereby preserving the homeostasis of the normal oral flora, which is essential for maintaining overall oral health.Conclusion: While key virulence genes have been well characterized, further research is needed to clarify how their regulation is influenced by environmental conditions. Insights from this review may support the development of novel therapeutic approaches that reduce Streptococcus mutans pathogenicity while maintaining oral microbial balance.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024577977, PROSPERO CRD42024577977.

The integration of robotics into dental implantology represents a transformative shift towards enhanced surgical precision, consistency, and reproducibility. This review critically examines the development and clinical application of current dental implant robotic systems through th`e lens of robotic autonomy levels, as classified by contemporary frameworks. Emphasis is placed on systems operating at autonomy levels 0-1, (collaborative), and level 2, (task-autonomous), highlighting their procedural capabilities, limitations, and regulatory considerations. Although robotic systems demonstrate superior accuracy compared to either dynamic of static guided implant placement, several challenges persist, including high costs, complexity, clinical validation, scalability and constraints in performing biologically complex procedures. Previously cited barriers, such as restricted access to the posterior oral regions, are being increasingly addressed through flexible hardware and improved intraoral registration protocols. To support continued advancement, this review proposes strategic initiatives aimed at transitioning toward conditional autonomy (Level 3). These include simplification of surgical workflows, enhanced procedural flexibility, integration of AI-driven intraoperative adaptation, and modular system design. By focusing on robotic autonomy rather than general system overviews, this article offers a forward-looking perspective on how the next generation of dental surgical robots may achieve greater independence while maintaining safety, precision and clinical control.