Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Artificial Intelligence Among Dental Professionals and Students

Abstract

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into dental diagnostics, treatment planning, and education, yet the extent of awareness and engagement among dental professionals remains largely unexplored. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding AI among a diverse sample of dental students, postgraduate trainees, practicing dentists, and faculty members. A cross-sectional, self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to 109 respondents between January 17 and February 6, 2026, capturing demographic data, AI familiarity, attitudinal perceptions, and views on accountability for AI-related errors. Results indicate that while 57.8% of respondents were familiar with the general concept of AI, knowledge of specific clinical applications like orthodontic planning (29.4%) and automated caries detection (36.7%) was notably lower. Participants demonstrated cautious optimism; 59.6% agreed that AI would drive professional advancements, and a similar percentage (59.6%) disagreed that AI would replace dentists. However, only 13.7% trusted AI outputs over human second opinions, and 50.5% expressed concerns regarding the loss of manual clinical skills. Furthermore, 69.7% of respondents advocated for shared accountability between dentists and software developers for AI-related misdiagnoses. In conclusion, dental professionals show a preference for using AI as a diagnostic aid rather than a replacement, supported by a desire for shared responsibility. These findings highlight a critical need to integrate applied AI content into dental curricula to bridge the gap between general awareness and deep clinical application.