Executive summary
For UK dental professionals in 2025, the ground truth for safe and effective practice remains anchored in authoritative national guidance. This includes the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) guidelines, such as "Drug Prescribing for Dentistry," the "Delivering Better Oral Health" (DBOH) prevention toolkit, NICE CKS oral health topics, and the BNF's Dental Practitioners’ Formulary (DPF).
Layered on top of this foundation, a new generation of artificial intelligence tools is emerging to enhance clinical practice. AI now offers powerful support for:
- Guideline and evidence search: Tools like iatroX provide a UK-centric "front door" to rapidly find information within NICE, CKS, and the BNF.
- Dental radiograph assistance: Platforms such as Pearl Second Opinion, AssistDent, Overjet, and VideaHealth are providing a "second read" for dental X-rays to help detect pathology.
- Orthodontic remote monitoring: Companies like DentalMonitoring are using AI to reduce unnecessary appointments and improve treatment oversight.
However, for any dental practice connected to the NHS, the adoption of these tools requires rigorous due diligence. This includes understanding the requirements of the DTAC at procurement, adhering to DCB0129/0160 clinical safety standards, and maintaining DSPT compliance.
What UK dentists actually need from AI
- Quick answers with UK context: The ability to rapidly find and verify information from NICE CKS oral health topics, SDCEP guidelines, and the BNF's Dental Practitioners’ Formulary.
- Radiograph support: Assistance in identifying caries, calculus, periapical pathology, and estimating bone levels, with clear visual overlays and a robust audit trail.
- Orthodontic remote monitoring: Tools to help reduce unnecessary review appointments while safely escalating patients who require attention.
- Robust governance: For mixed NHS/private practices, any new tool must have a clear path to compliance with DTAC, DCB standards, DSPT, and the relevant MHRA/UKCA/CE device status.
Category A — Guideline & evidence AI search
These tools are designed to be an intelligent layer on top of the core UK evidence base.
iatroX (UK-centric)
- Positioning: iatroX is a natural-language clinical search platform that acts as a fast, reliable route to information within NICE, CKS, SIGN, and the BNF. For dentists, it is particularly useful for queries related to managing dental abscesses, selecting appropriate analgesia or antibiotics, and checking referral criteria.
Anchor sources you’ll verify against:
- NICE CKS (e.g., Dental abscess): For concise, UK-specific summaries on managing common oral health presentations.
- BNF Dental Practitioners' Formulary (DPF): The definitive source for prescribing in dental practice.
- SDCEP: The go-to source for comprehensive guidance on topics like drug prescribing and managing acute dental problems.
- DBOH: The foundational toolkit for prevention in dentistry.
Category B — Dental radiograph AI (chairside assistance)
AI is making a significant impact by providing a "second set of eyes" for interpreting radiographs.
- Pearl – Second Opinion®: A globally recognised leader, Pearl is CE-marked for comprehensive pathology detection in multiple EU markets and is available in the UK.
- AssistDent (Manchester Imaging): A UK-developed AI tool designed to prompt the earlier detection of enamel-proximal caries. It is already in use in UK dental practices and educational institutions.
- Overjet & VideaHealth: These platforms are FDA-cleared in the United States for caries detection and bone-level measurements. They offer strong clinical overlays and analytics. Before any UK deployment, practices must confirm their UK regulatory status (UKCA/CE mark and MHRA registration).
Regulatory note (UK): CE-marked devices can be placed on the Great Britain market within the MHRA’s transitional timelines (e.g., general medical devices under the EU MDD can be placed on the market up to the sooner of the certificate's expiry or 30 June 2028). Always verify a device's MHRA registration and its specific intended use before purchase.
Category C — Orthodontic remote monitoring
- DentalMonitoring: This AI-assisted platform is a leader in remote orthodontic observation. The company states it has CE-marked modules and is in broad use across the UK and EMEA. The evidence base points towards fewer emergency visits and more proactive treatment management.
Category D — Practice operations & documentation
- Ambient/AI scribe tools: While still emerging in dentistry, these tools can automate the drafting of clinical notes. The clinician always remains responsible for the final record. NHS England has issued specific guidance for ambient voice tech in medicine, and these principles (e.g., on consent and verification) should be applied to any dental setting.
- AI telephony/triage: A number of solutions are marketed for dental practices to manage inbound calls. Ensure any tool you consider has robust data-processing terms and is fully compliant with UK information governance standards.
Safety & compliance for NHS-connected deployments
- DTAC (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria): The baseline standard for any digital tool procured by an NHS-connected organisation.
- DCB0129/0160: The mandatory clinical risk management standards. The supplier must provide a DCB0129 safety case, and the adopting practice must complete a local DCB0160 safety case.
- DSPT (Data Security and Protection Toolkit): This is mandatory for any organisation that accesses NHS patient data or systems, or that holds an NHS contract.
- GDC standards: The General Dental Council's standards on consent, communication, and information governance apply fully when AI is used as part of the clinical process.
Quick comparison table
| Tool | Primary Use | UK/CE/MHRA Status | Practice Fit | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iatroX | UK Guideline/Evidence Search | UK-centric; routes to NICE/CKS/SDCEP/BNF | Good for chairside Q&A | Verify against sources in one click |
| Pearl Second Opinion | Radiograph Assistance | CE-marked (EU); UK availability | Comprehensive condition detection | Confirm GB regulatory particulars |
| AssistDent | Early Caries Prompting | UK vendor | Education & preventive focus | Practice integration varies |
| DentalMonitoring | Ortho Remote Monitoring | CE-marked modules | Reduces unnecessary reviews | Requires patient engagement workflow |
| Overjet / VideaHealth | Radiograph Analysis | FDA-cleared (US) | Strong overlays & analytics | Check UK compliance before use |
Practical playbooks
SDCEP-aligned antibiotic choices for dental abscess
Use a tool like iatroX to ask, "What is the SDCEP guidance on first-line antibiotics for a dental abscess?". Then, open the cited BNF Dental Practitioners' Formulary page to verify the exact dose and contraindications before prescribing.
Chairside second-read of bitewings
Use a tool like Pearl or AssistDent to provide an AI-assisted second read of bitewing radiographs. Use the visual overlays to guide your examination, but remember that the final diagnosis is always your clinical decision.
NHS-connected practice: what to ask vendors
When procuring any new AI tool, ask the vendor for their completed DTAC pack, their DCB0129 supplier safety documentation, and evidence of their annual DSPT submission.
Risks, limits, and mitigation
- Automation bias: Mitigate by always treating AI as a supportive tool, not an automated decision-maker. Keep the dentist-in-the-loop and document your final decisions as per GDC standards.
- Evidence maturity: Not all claims of accuracy translate to UK patient outcomes. Appraise any available peer-reviewed data and run small local pilots.
- Data protection: Complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for any new tool that processes patient data. Ensure the vendor's data processing terms are GDPR-compliant.
FAQs
- Is there a genuinely free AI tool dentists can start with?
- Yes, iatroX offers free, UK-centric clinical searching with direct links to key sources like NICE CKS, SDCEP, and the BNF.
- Can I use US FDA-cleared dental AI in the UK?
- Possibly, but you must first confirm its CE/UKCA status and its registration with the MHRA for the Great Britain market. The acceptance of CE marks follows defined timelines set by the MHRA.
- Do mixed NHS/private practices need the DSPT?
- If your practice accesses any NHS data or systems (like NHSmail or electronic referrals) or holds any form of NHS contract, then yes, you must complete the DSPT annually.
- What should remain my ground truth?
- Your clinical ground truth should always be the official UK guidance from SDCEP, DBOH, NICE CKS oral health, and the BNF DPF. Use AI as an accelerator to get to this information faster, and always verify.