Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized healthcare in a number of areas, including dentistry, where AI-driven instruments and technology are starting to change how patients are treated [1, 2]. AI-powered dental treatments have the potential to improve in terms of precision, effectiveness, and overall quality thanks to applications like robotically assisted operations, automated image analysis, predictive analytics, and machine learning algorithms for diagnostics [3]. These advances provide data-driven insights for more efficient treatment planning, which may customize patient care, decrease human error, and expedite processes [4, 5]. Though the technological developments in AI are well known, less is known about how patients see and embrace these technologies. Patients have a unique and critical viewpoint on how these technology developments are incorporated into their treatment experiences since they are the primary receivers of dental care [6]. Unlike conventional tools, artificial intelligence systems give machine-based decision-making a new dimension that can cause individuals to feel anything from exhilaration to mistrust [7]. Though it can assist with diagnosis and treatment, artificial intelligence also forces us to consider trust, the value of human expertise, and the concept of diminishing personalized healthcare. Knowing how people view artificial intelligence in dentistry can help you to determine how comfortable they are with it and identify any problems that could prevent dentists from applying it extensively [8, 9].

About whether artificial intelligence could replace human expertise, patients felt conflicted. While some were concerned that artificial intelligence choices wouldn't be as sensitive or understandable as human ones, others thought it may help things be more accurate. The survey also addresses people's need for more knowledge and understanding regarding the part artificial intelligence performs in their daily life. Better communication between dentists and patients, according to it, might help to reduce people's anxieties and inspire more usage of artificial intelligence technology. This study provides a wealth of data on people's attitudes, which will be quite beneficial for the more general debate on artificial intelligence use in the healthcare sector. The findings highlight the need of addressing patients' concerns and educating them on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence in dentistry thus ensuring that its application is socially and 

Survey Design: Inquiring about their demographics, self-reported oral health, expectations, responsibilities, trust, engagement, and what they view as the positives and downsides of AI, the study sought to learn what dental patients thought about AI technology. Supported by early testing, the poll questions were developed following thorough examination of the body of current research. The poll questions were agreed upon by the experts such that there would be no further arguments or issues. Gender and degree of education were left out to promote diversity and prevent any possible prejudice.

Ethical Approval: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC) in Karachi, Pakistan accepted this paper. The investigation was conducted in line with ethical guidelines established in the Declaration of Helsinki as well as those of the pertinent institutions. Before the poll started, every subject granted written permission. Not at all were they obliged to participate in the study.

Inclusion Criteria: Those wishing to participate in the study had to be at least eighteen years old and fluent in English or Urdu. This ensured that language limitations would not pose any difficulty for the poll takers in comprehending or answering the questions.

Study Population and Sample Size: The study was conducted at FJDC Karachi and applied random selection. Every 73 patient seen in the outpatient dental department between June 2023 and August 2023 received an opportunity to participate. Each participant received an information sheet with a synopsis of the research and a discussion of artificial intelligence applications in dentistry, like tools for AI-driven diagnostics and treatment planning guides.

Survey Administration: Patients at the dentistry outpatient clinic's waiting room received the cross-sectional survey. Examples of AI uses in dentistry were included in the information sheet; they included segmentation of intraoral scans, AI-assisted diagnosis, and implant treatment planning. This was done to help attendees grasp the AI technologies that were being presented. The survey had to be completed on the spot, and there were no rewards for taking part.

Data Analysis: SPSS Statistics Version 28.0 was used to conduct descriptive statistical analysis. Depending on the sample size and variable distribution, two-sided chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate group differences based on frequency distributions. Less than 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance.

The results of 73 patients' surveys provide a complex picture of artificial intelligence's place in dentistry. The age distribution of the respondents is shown in Table 1. Ages 36 to 50 made up the largest group of participants (38.4%), followed by those between the ages of 26 and 35 (26.0%). Age groups' opinions of AI were statistically significantly correlated (Chi-square = 18.365, p = 0.005). This suggests that people in their middle years could know more about artificial intelligence in dentistry.

Table 1: Age Distribution of Respondents

The association between patients' frequency of dental visits and their understanding of AI is shown in Figure 1. The findings show a statistically significant correlation (Chi-square = 49.593, p = 0.005) between dental visit frequency and AI expertise. Of the 19 patients who see their dentist every two years, the majority (14 out of 19) knew just a little about AI. It's interesting to note that a greater proportion of patients who only attend in an emergency—13 out of 24—did not know anything about artificial intelligence (AI), suggesting that there may be a knowledge gap among less regular dental visits.

Figure 1: Cross-tabulation of Knowledge about AI and Dental Visit Frequency

Patients' perceptions of the value of oral health, their prior dental procedures, and whether or not they have received orthopantomograms (OPGs) are highlighted in Table 2. The majority of respondents (61.6%) said dental health was normally important. Furthermore, statistically significant (p = 0.000) was the fact that 68.5% of patients had previously taken an OPG, indicating that patients who are acquainted with dental radiographs may be more aware of the possible uses of AI.

Table 2: Importance of Oral Health, Past Dental Treatments, and OPG Taken in the Past with Statistical Tests

Table 3 demonstrates that over half of the participants (49.3%) had average understanding of the digital world, and the majority of respondents (27.4%) thought that artificial intelligence (AI) would increase consistency in dental treatment. Knowledge of the digital world and perceptions of AI were shown to be statistically significantly correlated (Chi-square = 49.593, p = 0.001), suggesting that patients' opinions on AI technology in dentistry may be influenced by their level of digital literacy.

Table 3: Knowledge of the Digital World, Concerns about AI, and Advantages of AI with Statistical Tests

Table 3 demonstrates that over half of the participants (49.3%) had average understanding of the digital world, and the majority of respondents (27.4%) thought that artificial intelligence (AI) would increase consistency in dental treatment. Knowledge of the digital world and perceptions of AI were shown to be statistically significantly correlated (Chi-square = 49.593, p = 0.002), suggesting that patients' opinions on AI technology in dentistry may be influenced by their level of digital literacy.

Table 4: AI Use in Treatment and Its Impact on Oral Health, Treatment Quality, and Doctor-Patient Relationship with Statistical Tests

Regarding AI diagnostic technologies, people thought that AI should outperform mediocre dentists by 24.7%, while 23.3% thought AI should perform on par with the best dentists. With cautious optimism, over half (47.9%) favored AI-assisted operations while 37% disapproved of them. A sizeable fraction (15.1%) expressed uncertainty about supporting AI, indicating a need for further patient education. 45.2% of respondents were doubtful about the general consensus about AI's function in dentistry, showing continued skepticism about its practical applicability. This is consistent with previous research, which shows that skepticism and a lack of knowledge about AI are frequent obstacles to its wider adoption in the healthcare industry (Table 5).

Table 5: AI Diagnostic Systems, Endorsement of Procedures, and Agreement with Statements with Statistical Tests

The findings of this study reveal several key insights into patients' perceptions of AI in dentistry, which align with and deviate from the existing literature in meaningful ways. Overall, patients demonstrated varied levels of knowledge about AI, with a significant portion expressing concerns over its role in dental care, particularly in terms of accuracy, workforce displacement, and the patient-doctor relationship. These results contribute to the growing body of research investigating how AI technologies are perceived within healthcare, specifically in dentistry. Our study found that patients who visit the dentist semiannually had a higher level of knowledge about AI compared to those who sought care only during emergencies. Those who use healthcare facilities more frequently are more likely to be aware of new technology, including artificial intelligence [10, 11], according to studies. This outcome corresponds with those results. Regular visitors to the doctor most likely encounter more discussions about new technology such treatment planning tools and AI-powered diagnosis instruments. Those who visit less frequently, particularly those who require emergency treatment, may not be as exposed to these technologies as others, which would result in lesser awareness. Particularly among those who don't visit the dentist somewhat regularly, this lack of knowledge might make it more difficult for artificial intelligence to be extensively applied in dentistry.

Patients between the ages of 36 and 50 know the most about artificial intelligence in dentistry, according the survey. Patients falling between the ages of 26 and 35 knew the next most. According past studies, people between the ages of 18 and 24 are often more at ease using digital tools and platforms than those over the age of 65 [12]. Younger and middle-aged persons are more likely to utilize digital platforms, hence they feel more at ease with artificial intelligence concepts. This might be a mirror of the way various generations apply technology. Conversely, elderly persons could be less receptive to or dubious of these modern technology. This is consistent with what previous studies of the technology gap between generations have revealed [13]. Patients' opinions about artificial intelligence correlated with their relative importance of oral health. Since they recognized AI may aid with diagnosis and treatment, most of the respondents—who considered oral health to be crucial—also believed it was interesting. Previous studies have linked people's openness to new tools with their value of their health [14, 15].  Those who prioritize oral health may be more likely to appreciate the benefits AI offers, such as personalized care and increased accuracy. Moreover, individuals with a history of advanced dental treatments, such as prosthetics and apicectomies, were more familiar with AI-driven diagnostics, possibly due to the exposure they had to technologically advanced procedures.

A notable portion of respondents expressed concerns about AI displacing dental professionals and its accuracy in clinical diagnoses. Similar concerns have been highlighted in the broader healthcare literature, where AI is often viewed as both an opportunity and a threat [16]. On one hand, AI can enhance precision and reduce human error, but on the other, patients fear that the increased reliance on machines could undermine the human aspect of healthcare. In dentistry, where the relationship between the patient and the practitioner is so crucial for treatment, job loss worries particularly strongly. Patients in this study understood that artificial intelligence may help to ensure seamless operations. Two of the main advantages, many of them said, were reducing time and increasing consistency in service. These findings fit up with those of earlier research demonstrating artificial intelligence's ability to increase quality of treatment, expedite procedures, and reduce wait times [17].

As AI handles some diagnostic and surgical tasks, doctors may devote more time to more difficult patient demands. Still, the theory that artificial intelligence may improve doctor-patient relationships was not as well embraced. This is consistent with what previous studies have revealed: patients are concerned about how artificial intelligence may impair the human aspects of treatment even if they are aware of its technological advantages [18]. Many of the patients in this survey believed that artificial intelligence may improve dental treatments, but many more were unsure about how it would influence their doctor-relationship. Although some studies indicate artificial intelligence might enhance therapeutic outcomes, it could also lead to more transactional treatment that separates patients from their doctors. This is reminiscent to what has been observed in other spheres of healthcare, where patients are concerned that artificial intelligence might compromise the trust and compassion often at the core of the interaction between consumers and providers [19].

Limitations and Future Suggestions: Future studies should thus focus on a larger and more varied sample of patients so that researchers may learn more about how individuals of all races and ethnicities see artificial intelligence. Expanding the sample size and including patients from a greater spectrum of social groups might assist us to better understand public perceptions of artificial intelligence in dentistry. As more artificial intelligence technologies find use in dental clinics, it would also be interesting to track patients' opinions over time. This study's one potential flaw is its convenience group of 73 individuals from one medical university. In other circumstances, this may have made data usage more difficult. As patients learn more about AI-driven dental treatment, their perceptions may evolve as the cross-sectional technique only caught views at one moment in time. Future studies should go further into these areas to provide a more complete view of the topic.

According to this study, patients understand the probable advantages of AI in dentistry—that is, faster and more precise treatment. They are also concerned, though, about how artificial intelligence can affect patient-doctor interactions, the dependability of diagnostic findings, and the way clinicians collaborate. Those who saw the doctor more frequently and had more of a concern for their mouth health understood more about artificial intelligence. Still a major issue is people's mistrust of artificial intelligence's influence on tailored treatment and professional decision-making. These issues must be resolved by explicit integration techniques and instruction if more dental offices are to employ artificial intelligence.

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