AI-Generated Patient Education Outperforms Traditional Methods in Dentistry

Study at a glance:

Journal: BMC Oral Health, 2025

Population: 100 patients undergoing restorative or endodontic dental procedures

Method: Cross-sectional, comparative study assessing AI-generated educational materials versus traditional education (verbal explanations and pamphlets)

Key Finding: AI-generated materials improved patient comprehension, trust, and anxiety reduction compared to traditional methods

Summary:
This study evaluated the effectiveness of AI-generated educational content for patients undergoing endodontic or restorative dental procedures. One hundred participants were randomized to receive either AI-generated materials (via ChatGPT) or traditional verbal and printed instructions. Patients in the AI group showed significantly higher scores in clarity (4.42 vs 3.25), usefulness (4.63 vs 3.50), comprehensiveness (4.50 vs 3.29), trust (4.00 vs 2.96), and reduced anxiety (2.63 vs 3.38, p < 0.001). Knowledge retention improved substantially in the AI group, and expert reviewers confirmed the materials’ accuracy and suitability (inter-rater reliability κ = 0.75, p < 0.001).

Takeaway:
AI-generated educational materials can enhance patient understanding and reduce anxiety in dental procedures, offering a scalable solution to improve patient experience and support clinical outcomes.

Source: Islam S. Evaluating the impact of AI-generated educational content on patient understanding and anxiety in endodontics and restorative dentistry: A comparative study. BMC Oral Health. 2025;25:689. doi:10.1186/s12903-025-06069-0 Available at: https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-025-06069-0