Dentech Digest Issue #10: AI Predicts Pediatric Caries, Shape Memory Aligners, and Owandy's Oral Health Report App.

Your TL;DR on dental AI, innovation, and industry moves.

Jun 27, 2025

Hi Fam!!!

If you’ve ever used an AI chatbot to write a patient email, generate post-op instructions, or quiz yourself before a test, you’ve likely used a tool trained on copyrighted materials. Until now, that’s lived in a legal grey area.

But this week, a U.S. judge ruled that training AI models on legally acquired copyrighted content can count as “fair use.” That’s a huge win for companies like Anthropic or Meta and potentially for all of us in healthcare.

Why it matters: AI is increasingly baked into the tools we use for social media, charting, patient comms, diagnostics, and even dental school curriculums. Whether these tools are legally trained will directly affect how safe, sustainable, and trustworthy they are in your hands.

🍩 This week in dental Tech:

API integrations for the ultimate tech stack
AI predicts pediatric caries
Infection control made easy
Industry Insights

🤝 Vyne x Open Dental: Interoperability is No Longer Optional

Vyne Dental announced a major API integration with Open Dental that lets clinical and financial data flow between platforms in real time.

Why this matters: You know when your charting software says one thing, your billing software says another, and your front desk gets stuck playing referee? This integration takes a big step toward solving that mess. It means less double entry, fewer errors, and faster insurance claims because your systems can actually talk to each other.

"What truly matters is creating an environment where providers are not reliant on a single clearinghouse connection and allowing providers to choose the tools that work best for their practices and their patients.” - Paul Bernard, Vyne Dental Chief Product Officer

🦷 HKU Launches Cavity Prediction AI for Preschoolers

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed a groundbreaking AI model that can predict future cavities at the individual tooth level in children as young as age 3. The model uses data from over 12,000 preschoolers, including diet, hygiene, fluoride exposure, and socioeconomic indicators, to forecast which teeth are at highest risk for decay by age 6.

Image Source: HKU Dentistry

Why it matters: This is true preventive dentistry, powered by AI. Instead of waiting for kids to show up with caries, this system identifies which exact teeth are most likely to decay, before damage occurs. That’s a major shift from reactive to proactive care.

🤖 Ask ADS: Your Instant AI Reference for Infection Control & Safety

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) has launched Ask ADS, an AI chatbot designed for dental professionals. It delivers evidence-based guidance on infection control, occupational health, and patient safety.

Why it matters: Dental teams often juggle multiple patients and changing safety protocols. Ask ADS helps them get fast, up-to-date answers without flipping through outdated manuals or websites.

Industry Insights

🚀 DentTracks launched an AI-powered SaaS platform that automates call handling, insurance verification, billing, and analytics, giving dental practices streamlined operations and data-driven insights in one unified system.

“Human connection will always be essential to dentistry, which is why we designed DentTracks to complement—not replace—the clinical experience with advanced automation and intelligent systems.” - Dr. Vajahat Yar Khan, DentTracks CEO and Founder

☁️ ZimVie launched its RealGUIDE® Software Suite and Implant Concierge® service in Japan, creating a complete digital implant solution from planning to final restoration.

🔎 VideaHealth launched OrthoAI and ImplantAI, which analyze routine X-rays to identify aligner and implant candidates, helping dentists capture missed treatment opportunities.

🧠 West Virginia University orthodontists are testing 3D-printed aligners made from shape memory materials that adapt to body heat and fit teeth more precisely.

Image Source: wvutoday.edu

📍 Henry Schein is deploying IFS Cloud software to replace fragmented service systems across Europe and North America with a single platform for managing field technicians and equipment support.

🐝 DentalBee secured pre-seed funding from Dental Innovation Alliance to scale its AI documentation platform that cuts dentist paperwork time by up to 20%.

📈 VideaHealth's AI platform is rolling out to 100+ GPS Dental locations, delivering a 19% increase in restorative production per patient and 32% boost in crown production through real-time X-ray analysis.

🖥️ DSN Software launched DSN Imaging, the first fully cloud-native 3D dental imaging platform that lets dentists access CBCT scans from any device.

Image Source: DSN

🕹️ Evident partnered with LuxCreo to integrate expert CAD design services directly into LuxCreo's LuxCloud platform, eliminating the production bottleneck that slows digital dental workflows.

🇺🇸 U.S. Army researchers and Formlabs demonstrated field 3D printing of dental appliances, creating a custom nightguard in just 36 minutes at a remote medical station.

🧪 OrisDX raised $4 million to commercialize its saliva-based oral cancer test that achieves 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity, dramatically outperforming traditional visual exams.

📱 Colgate launched a global AI screening tool on WhatsApp that analyzes user behavior and preferences to gather insights for its premium product strategy.

🎤 Archy launched Archy Intelligence,™ a suite of AI agents that automate practice management from conversational analytics to hands-free charting and insurance verification.

📝 Owandy’s iOS scanner now features an Oral Health Report app that uses AI to instantly detect oral issues from 3D color scans and generate patient-friendly visual reports.