AN INQUIRY INTO DENTAL STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DENTISTRY: EXAMINING THEIR BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND UNDERSTANDING

Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely anticipated to become an integral component of dentistry soon given its potential to revolutionize both dental education and practice. Therefore, it is essential to understand the perspectives of dental students who will be the future practitioners to adopt and use these technologies effectively and efficiently. The study aimed to evaluate the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes of a sample of Turkish dental students towards AI. Materials and Methods: Data was collected online from students regarding age, sex and academic year. The students' beliefs regarding AI were assessed using a 21-question survey form of AI Attitude Scale. Also, a 15-question survey form was used to investigate the opinions and knowledge of dental students about AI. A total of 527 dental students between the ages of 18 and 37 participated; 142 of them were first-year, 14 were second-year, 171 were third-year, 90 were fourth-year and 110 were fifth-year students. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean belief dimension scores based on the sex of the students (p<0.05). Overall, the students had some awareness and slight agreement on the positive effects of AI (cost reduction and productivity increase). However, despite these benefits, most students viewed AI as a potential danger to their careers. Especially in the field of dentistry, female students were found to agree more with the negative sub-dimensions of the scale such as unemployment, alienation, environmental pollution and supply-demand imbalances (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for AI education in dental curriculum to prepare future practitioners and addresses their concerns.