Implantology offers a wide range of opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence (Al). If Al brings about advances in implantology that benefit patients and dentists, this is to be welcomed from an ethical point of view. This article examines the acceptability of Al applications in implantology based on four central principles of medical ethics that also apply to dentistry: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. In this regard, both opportunities and risks arise from the use of Al. Ultimate human responsibility, data sovereignty, traceability and explainability of algorithms, fair and representative training data, and protection against deskilling can be identified as important preconditions for the ethically justifiable use of Al in implantology.
The digital implant workflow offers new possibilities for planning, impression-taking, and prosthetic restoration. However, it does not replace clinical expertise. Digital procedures allow for more accurate implant planning, better patient education, and more efficient communication between dental practices and laboratories. However, anatomical limitations, system-related inaccuracies, and the need for interdisciplinary coordination remain crucial factors in successful treatment. Clinical case studies illustrate the opportunities, challenges, and limitations of the digital implant workflow. Combining analog and digital procedures allows for flexible and patient-centered implant treatment. Digital tools should serve as support rather than as substitutes for clinical knowledge.
Modern digital technologies are increasingly being integrated into dental practice. They support clinicians and patients in various aspects of diagnostics, planning, and decision-making. In the implementation of digital workflows, various tools -such as intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM systems, facial scanners, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based planning software -are used to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and predictability, while facilitating communication between the dentist and dental technician. In the present case, a 68-year-old patient was rehabilitated with implant-supported removable dentures using a digital workflow. The process included digital planning, simulation, fabrication, and insertion of the prostheses, resulting in a precise and esthetically predictable outcome.
Algorithms, programs, and networks based on artificial intelligence (AI) are currently among the most important drivers of innovation in healthcare. In dentistry, AI-based algorithms emerged just over a decade ago, initially in dentomaxillofacial radiology, where the following applications were researched and implemented in everyday dental practice: improving radiologic image quality, automatically identifying teeth and implants (including their restorative status), diagnosing dental and oral pathologies, and localizing or segmenting anatomical landmarks and structures, for example, in the fields of orthodontics or oral surgery. Al is also a promoter of digital workflows in dentistry, particularly in oral implantology and prosthodontics, where it actively supports the planning, implementation, and monitoring of therapies. Exciting developments include speech recognition systems and visual language models (VLMs), which could significantly reduce and streamline the administrative burden in dental practices. The future use of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) in dental studies, or the active integration of this technology into the curriculum, also holds great promise for oral implantology, where complex surgical procedures can be trained and repeated virtually until both a suitable routine and practitioner expertise bare achieved to apply these techniques in real patients. Alongside all these possibilities, however, it is important to consider the risks associated with AI, such as deskilling and automation bias. Furthermore, the dental profession should actively participate in the discussion on the ethical use and regulation of this technology.
The rapid expansion of digital health data collected across national and institutional registries has opened new strategic avenues for innovation in medical and dental research. Registry-based clinical trials (RBCTs), which integrate large-scale datasets, represent a modern and promising methodologic concept designed to overcome key limitations of classic randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This perspective article introduces a methodologic framework that merges the external validity of clinical registries with the internal validity of traditional trial designs. It further provides a critical discussion of the future opportunities and challenges associated with RBCTs in dental research. RBCTs hold considerable potential to transform clinical research and may become an integral component of implant dentistry. Their influence extends far beyond academic inquiry, shaping clinical care pathways, healthcare systems, education, development in medical devices and pharmaceuticals, insurance structures, and regulatory decision-making. The major strength of RBCTs lies in the reliance on real-world data: They can substantially enhance recruitment efficiency while reducing the financial and logistical burden typically associated with classic clinical trial designs. Once established, registry infrastructures can continuously generate and support new research initiatives. As data volumes and quality continue to grow, so too will the scientific and clinical potential of registry-based trial methodologies. RBCTs will not replace traditional RCTs; rather, they should be considered a supplementary tool in clinical research.
