Combatting misdiagnosis

Featured Products Promotional Features

  Posted by: Dental Design      21st April 2023

Missed or incorrect diagnosis, of any condition, can cause a number of issues both for the patient and the clinician. This could result in litigation, added costs, and lasting problems for the patient. It’s important that dentists are thorough during examinations and when checking scans to ensure that nothing is missed. This is particularly vital when diagnosing oral cancer, or conditions which require more invasive or expensive treatment.

A key tool here is record keeping. Clinicians should ensure that clinical records at the very least include details of examinations, all findings, diagnosis, recognition and referral, and follow up.[i] This is important for every patient, including those with suspected oral cancer – dentists must take action if they have any suspicions about unusual lesions or swelling.ⁱ Often, dental professionals are the first point of contact for monitoring oral cancer, so it is vital to remain vigilant.

Consequences for patient and clinician 

Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment can have serious consequences. Dental professionals are in a position to notice early signs of oral cancer; however, it is commonly missed.ⁱ Not only can clinicians expect to face legal action if they fail to diagnose oral cancer – but a missed diagnosis can affect the survival rate – which varies drastically depending on how early the cancer is diagnosed.ⁱ If it isn’t caught when localised in the mouth, it is likely to spread to the lymph nodes, where prognosis is significantly worse.[ii]

Accurate and timely diagnosis is important in all cases. When clinicians are looking to diagnose any condition, it’s important to be certain so that you are able to decide on the best course of treatment. If this is not appropriate or based on an incorrect diagnosis, this could incur extra costs, and has the potential to impact the patient’s health.[iii]

AI offers a virtual second opinion

New dental technology is constantly being developed. Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular, is being more widely implemented in day-to-day practice to aid with clinical analysis and decision-making. When used in this way, new dental technology can streamline diagnostics, assist with treatment, and save time.[iv]

Generally, AI is defined as an intelligent computer program which is capable of learning and applying knowledge to carry out complex tasks.[v] When applied to a dental diagnostic setting, this means that clinicians always have a virtual second opinion which has the ability to pick up on anything they may have missed, or confirm their existing diagnosis. AI allows equipment and software to perform tasks quickly and accurately – eliminating factors like human error and making it an ideal solution for repetitive, laborious tasks.[vi] It is the future of dentistry because it is able to assist in improving and streamlining many tasks from repetitive administrative tasks like scheduling, to more complex aspects like diagnosis, having the potential to transform traditional oral health care.^iv

This can be hugely beneficial in any dental practice. When used on a daily basis, new technology which incorporates this type of software enables dentists to save time during appointments and offer patients high standards of care.

The key to confident treatment

When looking to implement AI into practice, it’s important to know where to start. Imaging is a great first step which can transform the way you work. Digitally coded diagnostic images are relatively easy to translate into computer languages.^iv AI will make information more easily digestible, allowing you to have a clear understanding of the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment going forward. This second opinion will also re-affirm your own conclusions, ensuring you are happy to proceed with confidence.

The AI Insights solution from Carestream Dental allows you to seamlessly integrate AI diagnostics into your practice. The solution is compatible with Carestream Dental’s digital panoramic x-ray systems and enables you to generate an accurate diagnosis in only a few simple clicks. Once you’ve performed your panoramic x-ray, AI Insights detects and displays information about a broad range of conditions in seconds. Key issues become immediately obvious to you as AI Insights produces clear visual information on patients’ scans.

Certainty in diagnosis is important to achieve excellent outcomes. Particularly when it comes to conditions such as mouth cancer, which rely on early diagnosis. This is why it is worthwhile investing in equipment which can help you diagnose and treat a variety of conditions with confidence. If you are able to provide patients with high-standards of care, and avoid going through unnecessary or incorrect treatment procedures you will be able to save time, money, and potentially save yourself from facing litigation.

For more information on Carestream Dental visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @carestreamdental.uk

Nimisha Nariapara
Nimisha is the Trade Marketing Manager at Carestream Dental covering the UK, Middle East, Nordics, South Africa, Russia and CIS regions. She has worked at Carestream Dental for the past 7 years, where she has developed her marketing skills and industry knowledge to bring the core values and philosophy of the company to the market. 

[i] CAN Hardy. Misdiagnosing oral malignancy and consequences of poor investigation. (Accessed: 07.11.22) https://www.cnahardy.com/news-and-insight/insights/english/misdiagnosing-oral-malignancy-and-consequences-of-poor-investigation

[ii] Oral cancer Foundation. Oral cancer facts. (Accessed: 07.11.22) https://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/

[iii] Schwendicke, F., et al. “Artificial intelligence for caries detection: value of data and information.” Journal of dental research 101.11 (2022): 1350-1356.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00220345221113756

[iv] Mitra, Radhika, and Gitanjali Tarnach. “Artificial intelligence-A boon for dentistry.”
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Radhika-Mitra-2/publication/362247792_Artificial_intelligence_-_A_boon_for_dentistry/links/62df829e4246456b55e74606/Artificial-intelligence-A-boon-for-dentistry.pdf

[v] Hung, Kuofeng, et al. “Current applications, opportunities, and limitations of AI for 3D imaging in dental research and practice.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17.12 (2020): 4424. file:///Users/officeone/Downloads/ijerph-17-04424-v2.pdf

[vi] Alauddin, Muhammad Syafiq, Ahmad Syukran Baharuddin, and Mohd Ifwat Mohd Ghazali. “The modern and digital transformation of oral health care: A mini review.” Healthcare. Vol. 9. No. 2. MDPI, 2021. file:///Users/officeone/Downloads/healthcare-09-00118.pdf

---