Advancements in artificial intelligence algorithms for dental implant identification: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Statement of problem The evidence regarding the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying dental implant systems is currently inconclusive. The available studies present varying results and methodologies, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Purpose The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to comprehensively analyze and evaluate articles that investigate the application of AI in identifying and classifying dental implant systems. Material and methods An electronic systematic review was conducted across 3 databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus. Additionally, a manual search was performed. The inclusion criteria consisted of peer-reviewed studies investigating the accuracy of AI-based diagnostic tools on dental radiographs for identifying and classifying dental implant systems and comparing the results with those obtained by expert judges using manual techniques—the search strategy encompassed articles published until September 2023. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess the quality of included articles. Results Twenty-two eligible articles were included in this review. These articles described the use of AI in detecting dental implants through conventional radiographs. The pooled data showed that dental implant identification had an overall accuracy of 92.56% (range 90.49% to 94.63%). Eleven studies showed a low risk of bias, 6 demonstrated some concern risk, and 5 showed a high risk of bias. Conclusions AI models using panoramic and periapical radiographs can accurately identify and categorize dental implant systems. However, additional well-conducted research is recommended to identify the most common implant systems.