We are increasingly hearing that patients are turning to AI tools, social media, or the internet to diagnose their symptoms, before even setting foot in a dental practice. As a dentist, you know that no algorithm can replicate your clinical judgement and experience, and that what may appear convincing online often lacks context and nuance.
The same principle applies to the complexities of working in a dental practice. Whether it is employment related matters, business contracts, or compliance with regulators, generic AI tools cannot replace specialist advice tailored to the realities of dental practice. As dentists, you are expected to base decisions on reliable, authoritative sources, and both your patients and regulators expect no less.
Why going to trusted sources matters
Dentistry is a highly regulated profession. The decisions you make, clinical and non-clinical, can have far-reaching consequences for patients, staff, and your professional standing. While the internet, including AI tools, offers speed and convenience it does not offer protection afterwards if things go wrong or the advice is not quite right, and in fact can make things worse.
The GDC expects dental professionals to work within their competence, keep their knowledge up to date, and take reasonable steps to ensure their practices are safe and compliant. In the event of a complaint or fitness to practise investigation, being able to demonstrate that you relied on recognised, authoritative guidance is important.
The limits of AI and generic online advice
AI tools and online resources are useful starting points for general understanding, but they are not designed to understand the complexities of dentistry as a regulated profession. They may:
- Provide outdated or inaccurate information (increasingly with references that are wrong)
- Fail to reflect UK‑specific legislation
- Miss the nuances of associate agreements, employment status, or running a practice
- Offer advice with no accountability if that advice proves incorrect.
AI cannot take responsibility for the outcomes of decisions made based on their content - you do. Using such tools without checking for accuracy increases risk, particularly in areas such as complaints handling, confidentiality, safeguarding, and employment disputes, as well as giving rise to GDPR considerations.
AI may appear to agree with a narrative or offer reassurance, but without professional expertise, that response may be inaccurate.
Using a trusted source of knowledge and expertise
We exist to support dentists through every stage of their career. Our advice is grounded in professional expertise and shaped by people who understand dentistry and the realities of practice, including the nuances and implications that are not always obvious on the surface.
Alongside professional bodies like us, dentists are also expected to refer to other recognised and authoritative sources of information, including organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. These bodies provide evidence-based guidance and standards that underpin safe, effective dental care.
Unlike AI guidance, expert advice does not simply accept the wording of a scenario at face value. It recognises what may be missing, misunderstood, or implied, just as a dentist can interpret far more from a patient’s account than the patient themselves may realise. AI may appear to agree with a narrative or offer reassurance, but without professional expertise, that response may be inaccurate.
Our advice is designed to support informed, proportionate decision-making, backed by the judgement and experience of professionals who understand both the explicit issues and the unspoken complexities behind them.
Using AI appropriately
AI is becoming an increasingly common part of everyday professional practice, and when used appropriately, it can be a valuable aid to help summarise information or support administrative tasks. However, it is not a substitute for professional judgement. Just as dental loupes enhance your vision but do not see for you, AI is an adjunct, a tool to support decision-making rather than replace it. You remain the professional, responsible for interpreting information, and making informed decisions in the best interests of your patients, your team, and your practice.
It is therefore for you to decide whether an AI tool or an appropriately qualified expert is the most suitable source of advice, and whether that choice would stand up to scrutiny later.
