About 2 in 5 dentists reported they are currently using artificial intelligence, but 1 in 3 said they never intend to use it, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute’s (HPI) Second Quarter 2026 State of the U.S. Dental Economy report.
However, 1 in 4 dentists who aren’t using AI reported they plan to implement it in the future, according to the report.
“Around one out of five dentists believe AI is a helpful tool, while skeptical dentists expressed concerns about AI inaccuracies and its potential to lead to misdiagnoses and overtreatment,” according to the report.
For this report, 589 dentists responded to surveys. Of these, 552 dentists work in private practice, including large group and dental service organization practices.
Those dentists who use AI indicated that the technology is used for imaging and diagnostics plus administrative tasks, including insurance verification, charting or note-taking, and billing and claims submission.
Furthermore, clinicians who plan to use it in the future reported that they would likely implement AI for front-desk functions like check-in and appointment scheduling tools and other administrative duties, including business analytics and charting and note-taking, according to the results.
Dentists were least open to using AI for treatment recommendations.
When asked how they felt about the expanded use of AI in dentistry, dentists had mixed reactions.
Approximately 22% reported they were generally optimistic about AI’s potential, while nearly 18% reported that AI is a tool that should never replace clinical judgment.
Nearly 14% were opposed to AI, and another approximately 10% felt skeptical or nervous. Finally, almost 10% reported having mixed feelings, according to the HPI results.
