Researchers Utilize AI to Predict Cavity Risk Based on Social Determinants of Health
An international team of researchers is employing artificial intelligence (AI) to identify individuals at high risk for cavities, shifting the focus from individual clinical diagnostics to broader social determinants of health. The findings, published in the journal Caries Research, indicate that AI models can accurately predict cavity risk and severity by analyzing factors such as wealth score, household density, access to fluoridated water, and private dental insurance status. Dr. Fernando Neves Hugo, chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion at NYU College of Dentistry and the study's senior author, emphasized that AI offers a transformative opportunity for public health surveillance and risk stratification. The study utilized data from the Brazilian Oral Health Survey, analyzing information from 23,726 participants, including demographic details, socioeconomic factors, and behavioral patterns linked to oral health.
