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Artificial intelligence: is it going to change everything?

From Volume 16, Issue 1, January 2023 | Page 5

Authors

Jonathan Sandler

BDS (Hons), MSc, PhD, MOrth RCS, FDS RCPS, BDS(Hons), MSc, PhD, FDSRCPS, MOrth RCS, Consultant Orthodontist, , DOrth RCS

Consultant Orthodontist, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, UK

Articles by Jonathan Sandler

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Article

Recently my son introduced me to Chat GPT (https://chat.openai.com/chat). The claim is that this software will lead to a technological revolution on the scale of the industrial revolution, for the benefit of humanity. Time will tell whether it lives up to its laudable aims.

The software is already being used to assist students ‘in the know’ to write essays (in any style imaginable), and to write ‘reflections’ on particular situations. I urge you all to check it out, and put in your own questions to the system to witness the incredibly short time in which reasonably credible answers are constructed.

Below I list a couple of computer-generated answers to simple orthodontic questions namely: ‘list the benefits of orthodontic photography’ and ‘how does a twin block work?’ The answers were generated almost instantaneously.

  • ‘Orthodontic photography is an important tool in the practice of orthodontics, as it allows the orthodontist to document the patient's dental and facial characteristics, assess the progress of treatment, and communicate with other dental professionals. Orthodontic photographs can be taken at various stages of treatment and can help the orthodontist plan and execute a treatment plan, as well as track the patient's progress. They can also be used for patient education and to communicate with other dental professionals, such as the patient's dentist or oral surgeon. Overall, orthodontic photography helps ensure the best possible outcome for the patient and helps the orthodontist provide high-quality care.’
  • ‘A twin block appliance is a type of orthodontic appliance that is designed to correct an overjet, which is a condition in which the upper front teeth protrude significantly beyond the lower front teeth. It consists of two acrylic blocks that are attached to the upper and lower dental arches, and it works by applying pressure to the upper and lower dental arches in opposite directions in order to bring the upper and lower teeth into a more aligned position.

    • If a twin block appliance fails to reduce a patient's overjet, it could be due to a number of reasons. One possibility is that the appliance was not worn consistently or as prescribed by the orthodontist. For the twin block appliance to be effective, it is important that the patient wears it as directed, which typically includes wearing it for at least 22 hours per day. If the appliance is not worn consistently or as prescribed, it may not have the opportunity to exert the necessary pressure on the teeth to bring them into a more aligned position.

    Another possibility is that the twin block appliance was not fitted properly. It is important that the appliance be fitted correctly in order for it to work effectively. If the appliance is not fitted properly, it may not apply the necessary pressure to the teeth to bring them into a more aligned position.

    A third possibility is that the patient's overjet was too severe for the twin block appliance to effectively correct. In some cases, an overjet may be so severe that it requires more extensive treatment, such as orthodontic braces or surgery, to correct. In these cases, the twin block appliance may not be sufficient to effectively reduce the overjet.

    In conclusion, there are a number of reasons why a twin block appliance may fail to reduce a patient's overjet. It is important to work closely with an orthodontist to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for correcting an overjet, and to follow the prescribed treatment plan consistently in order to achieve the best possible results.’

    I'm sure most of you will agree that the answers are pretty convincing and would certainly appear to be doing much of the ‘heavy lifting’ of devising a viewpoint on a particular issue.

    Everybody having answers, to every question about everything available, literally at the touch of a button, will, in a short period of time, reveal the as yet ‘unknown unknowns’. Let's hope none of these seriously conflicts with the laudable aims of this project.