Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Teleorthodontics: A Scoping Review
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Research Strategy and Study Design
2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
- Population (P): Orthodontic patients of any age undergoing monitoring or treatment in a remote or virtual context.
- Intervention (I): Applications clearly focused on AI, including machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks.
- Comparison (C): Not applicable.
- Outcomes (O): Any reported clinical, technical, or usability-related outcomes related to AI in a teleorthodontic context.
- Study design (S): Original research articles, case series, or pilot studies.
2.3. Selection of Studies and Data Extraction
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Article | Aim | Study Design and Population | Type of AI | Orthodontic Application and Setting | Reported Outcomes | Main Findings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arqub SA et al. 2023 [17] | To quantify real-time orthodontic tooth movement and evaluate the accuracy of DM scans compared to iTero models during space closure | Prospective pilot study; 12 fixed appliance patients (mean age 20.1) undergoing canine retraction | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring of tooth movement using patient-acquired video/photo scans every 4–5 days | Tooth movement peaked in first 4–5 days; rate declined thereafter; DM scans had max deviation of 0.05 mm from iTero; molars showed anchorage loss | Tooth movement occurs mostly early after activation; DM is accurate for 3D monitoring; first detailed study on short-interval displacement tracking using AI |
Caruso S et al., 2021 [18] | To present two cases using the Dental Monitoring (DM) system to monitor orthodontic treatment. | Case report of two patients: a growing patient with a retained upper canine and an adult patient with an upper lateral incisor crossbite. Both treated with aligners. | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring of orthodontic treatment through patient-taken intra-oral pictures using a smartphone and ScanBox. Monitoring aligner fit and retention. | Successful monitoring of complex movements and aligner fit. Effective during COVID-19 lockdown. | DM system is a promising method for remote monitoring, improving doctor-patient interaction. Useful in complex cases and during disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Ferlito T et al., 2023 [19] | To assess the capacity of AI-based remote monitoring to determine readiness to progress to the next aligner (GO/NO-GO) and measure tooth position discrepancies in clear aligner therapy | Prospective study; 30 aligner patients scanned twice for repeatability; 24 additional aligner patients at final stage used for 3D comparison | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring in clear aligner therapy (AI-based assessment of tracking and progression readiness) | 83.3% repeatability in GO/NO-GO, but 0% agreement on which/how many teeth had tracking issues; max discrepancies up to ~2 mm and ~8° in multiple axes | Significant variability in AI decisions; lack of consistency in instructions and discrepancy with actual 3D tooth positions raise concerns about reliability. |
Hansa I et al., 2021 [20] | To discuss the clinical applicability and rationale of AI-driven remote monitoring (AIRM) in orthodontics through a case series | Descriptive case series; clinical examples from aligner and fixed appliance patients | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Monitoring of aligner fit, hygiene, attachments, bracket failures, RME, eruption, retention; remote setting with smartphone app and Doctor Dashboard | Reported reduction in visits (up to 33%), early detection of issues (e.g., aligner tracking loss, gingival problems), improved compliance | AIRM allows earlier intervention, fewer in-office visits, improved doctor–patient communication; promising for aligners and fixed appliances; some limitations include cost and patient preference for in-office care. |
Homsi K et al., 2023 [21] | To compare the accuracy and validity of 3D digital models generated by AI-based Dental Monitoring™ vs. iTero scans during fixed orthodontic treatment | In vivo longitudinal study; 24 patients (14–55 years) tracked for 13.4 months using DM and iTero scans | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring during fixed orthodontic treatment; reconstruction of 3D dental models | No clinically significant difference in 3D model accuracy between DM and iTero at any time point; deviations remained within clinically acceptable limits | AI-based DM technology can reconstruct 3D models and track tooth movement accurately enough for clinical orthodontic use. |
Snider V et al., 2023 [22] | To evaluate if AI-based active reminders from Dental Monitoring™ improve oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment | Prospective clinical study; 24 patients monitored with DM for 10–13 months vs. 25 control patients for 3–5 months | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring of oral hygiene; smartphone app notifications and periodic assessments | At T5: DM group had lower OPI (2.00) and MGI (1.60) vs. control (OPI: 2.75, MGI: 2.63); statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) | AI reminders helped maintain better hygiene vs. controls; hygiene worsened over time despite reminders; DM group showed plateau in plaque scores but not gingival index; scan adherence declined over time |
Snider V et al., 2024 [23] | To clinically evaluate the accuracy of Dental Monitoring™’s (DM’s) AI image analysis and notification algorithm for detecting plaque, gingivitis, and recession during orthodontic treatment | Prospective clinical study; 24 orthodontic patients, 232 clinical timepoints | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | Remote monitoring of oral hygiene during treatment with fixed appliances | Sensitivity: 0.53 (plaque), 0.35 (gingivitis), 0.22 (recession); Specificity: 0.94–0.99; Accuracy: 0.49–0.72 | High specificity but low sensitivity; DM tends to underreport oral hygiene issues; useful to confirm absence, but not presence, of problems. |
Surovková J et al., 2023 [24] | To present a new AI-powered orthodontic workflow and evaluate its impact on dental assistants/nurses’ roles, patient monitoring, and treatment efficiency | Observational, practice-based preliminary report; 372 DM users and 192 non-DM controls in Invisalign treatment over 3 years | Deep learning via convolutional neural network; Dental Monitoring™ system | AI-assisted remote monitoring of clear aligner therapy; emphasis on staff workflow, aligner tracking, hygiene, and patient communication | 98% of Invisalign patients in the practice used DM; staff workload shifted to remote communication and data triage; improved perception of early error detection and task delegation) | AI transformed roles of nurses/assistants—less chairside work, more communication and data triage; DM enhances monitoring but needs human validation; AI supports personalization, but raises ethical/legal issues. |
Thurzo A et al., 2021 [25] | To evaluate the impact of an AI-driven update to the StrojCHECK™ orthodontic coaching app on patient compliance and clinical outcomes via remote monitoring | Pre-post observational study; 86 aligner patients (12–68 years) using the StrojCHECK™ smart coaching app before and after its AI-based update | Decision tree AI algorithm implemented in StrojCHECK™ coaching app (internal engine) | Smart coaching via app + AI remote monitoring of aligner tracking via mobile app | Significant improvement in user interaction and discipline; decrease in NO-GO scans (non-tracking) in females; no age effect; GO scans unchanged | AI update led to improved compliance and clinical behavior; patient-specific AI coaching enhanced performance; clinical improvements were gender-dependent and suggest the need for personalized motivational strategies. |
AI System | Algorithm Type | Characteristics | Clinical Benefit | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dental Monitoring™ | Deep learning via convolutional neural network | Smartphone app with ScanBox for patient-acquired intraoral images, enabling detailed remote monitoring of aligner fit and tooth movement; Doctor Dashboard for remote monitoring; automates communication and provides “GO/NO-GO” notification based on AI analysis of aligner fit and tracking. | Improved treatment efficiency, reduced need for some in-office visits, enhanced aligner tracking and treatment control. | [17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24] |
Decision tree AI algorithm implemented in StrojCHECK™ | Decision tree algorithm | Free smartphone app for orthodontic patients and doctors, designed to enhance patient compliance and adherence to treatment protocols; Monitors patient activities and compliance; Server back-end for doctors for statistical data processing, providing clinicians with valuable insights into patient behavior and progress. Does not utilize AI in the core app functionality but decision tree algorithms were integrated to guide patient behavior. | Increased patient compliance, better communication, objective monitoring of patient behavior. | [25] |
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© 2025 by the authors. Published by MDPI on behalf of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Polizzi, A.; Serra, S.; Leonardi, R.; Isola, G. Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Teleorthodontics: A Scoping Review. Medicina 2025, 61, 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61071141
Polizzi A, Serra S, Leonardi R, Isola G. Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Teleorthodontics: A Scoping Review. Medicina. 2025; 61(7):1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61071141
Chicago/Turabian StylePolizzi, Alessandro, Sara Serra, Rosalia Leonardi, and Gaetano Isola. 2025. "Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Teleorthodontics: A Scoping Review" Medicina 61, no. 7: 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61071141
APA StylePolizzi, A., Serra, S., Leonardi, R., & Isola, G. (2025). Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Teleorthodontics: A Scoping Review. Medicina, 61(7), 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61071141