This comprehensive study from Peshawar provides a revealing snapshot of how dentists within teaching hospitals are grappling with the rise of AI in their field. Nearly half of the 475 dental professionals surveyed show low to moderate AI knowledge, but enthusiasm to learn and use AI tools is unmistakably high. It’s a classic case of modern tech meeting traditional healthcare — with all the promise and growing pains that entails.
The findings underscore a vital point: awareness alone isn’t enough. A mere 2.7% achieved a high knowledge level despite widespread agreement that AI boosts efficiency and quality in dental practice. Faculty members naturally lead in understanding, but the sizable knowledge gap among younger practitioners — who are arguably most poised to embrace AI — hints at curricular shortcomings.
The positive outlook toward integrating AI education into dental curricula aligns with global trends but brings ethical and practical challenges into sharper focus. Concerns around data privacy, ethical use, and job displacement are well-founded, especially in resource-limited contexts where infrastructure, affordability, and access remain uneven. These concerns are more pronounced among younger dentists, signaling a need for responsible education that balances technical skills with critical discourse on AI’s societal impact.
What’s particularly interesting is the nuanced perception of AI as a tool rather than a threat. More than half of respondents did not fear AI replacing dentists permanently, indicating a pragmatic understanding of AI’s role as augmentative. This perspective is key to designing training programs that frame AI as a partner, not a replacement — a narrative essential to overcoming resistance fueled by job security fears.
The study’s limitations — single city focus, self-reported data, and the lack of causality inference — remind us to interpret these findings as a starting point rather than the final word. However, the data crisply illustrate the crossroads at which dental professionals stand: eager for innovation but needing structured guidance.
For tech enthusiasts and healthcare educators alike, Peshawar’s dentists offer a microcosm of the global challenge: how to responsibly harness AI’s power without leaving practitioners behind or undermining ethical standards. The message is clear — bridging the knowledge gap through targeted education, open dialogue on ethics, and improving infrastructure will be the linchpin in turning AI’s promise into practical, everyday dental health improvements. Let’s keep the conversation lively and solutions pragmatic — because the future of dentistry is unmistakably a blend of human touch and intelligent tech. Source: Exploring Knowledge and Perception of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching Dental Hospitals of Peshawar: A Cross-Sectional Study
