Evaluation of Turkish Dentists Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence
TL;DR
The findings underscore the need for the develop-ment of structured undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, the expansion of continuing pro-fessional development programs, the establishment of clear and comprehensive regulatory and legal frameworks, and the formulation of evidence-based clinical guidelines to ensure the sus-tainable integration of AI technologies into dental practice.
Abstract
Aim: This study aims to examine the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward artifi-cial intelligence (AI) among dentists practicing in Türkiye, and to evaluate whether these varia-bles differ according to gender, age, and type of institution. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study employed a 19-item question-naire developed following a comprehensive review of the literature. The survey was administered online to the participants. The required sample size was determined prior to the study using the formula for sample size calculation in a known population. A total of 274 dentists who complet-ed the questionnaire were included in the final analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: Of the participants, 73.7% expressed a willingness to receive professional-level training in AI, 70.8% reported that AI would enhance professional opportunities, and 73.4% indicated that AI could be utilized as a treatment planning tool. Male participants perceived the potential of AI as a definitive diagnostic tool to be significantly higher compared to female participants (p < 0.05). Younger dentists (mean age: 28.24 ± 4.56 years) were significantly more likely to report concerns that AI may violate ethical principles in medicine and dentistry (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that dentists’ awareness and attitudes toward AI applications are generally favorable. AI is perceived to offer particular utility as a tool for treatment planning and treatment monitoring. However, ethical concerns, patient privacy issues and insufficient training emerge as significant limitations. These findings underscore the need for the develop-ment of structured undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, the expansion of continuing pro-fessional development programs, the establishment of clear and comprehensive regulatory and legal frameworks, and the formulation of evidence-based clinical guidelines to ensure the sus-tainable integration of AI technologies into dental practice.