I recently was sent an article by a friend that discussed how AI was fooled by a Swedish researcher who uploaded fictitious studies about a made-up disease. The large language model ran with the studies and gave advice on how to deal with the disease ... even though it didn't exist.
Well, if AI can be fooled with a fake disease, what happens when you ask AI to come up with fictitious dental diseases -- the kind patients might repeat after consulting Dr. Google. Here's what Claude told us.
Molarite progressiva
A mysterious condition in which posterior teeth inexplicably migrate to the front of the mouth at a rate of 1 mm per decade. Symptoms include gradual crowding of the anterior teeth, the sensation that one's bite is "shifting," and an overwhelming desire to eat only soft foods on alternating Tuesdays.
Chronic enamel nostalgia syndrome (CENS)
A condition in which the tooth enamel attempts to retreat into the jawbone. Symptoms include progressive tooth shortening visible only under fluorescent lighting, sensitivity to music played in minor keys, and radiographic evidence of what appears to be teeth "sulking."
Gingival overenthusiasm disorder (GOD)
GOD is a rare condition in which the gingival tissue attempts to cover the crown of every tooth simultaneously. Symptoms include rapidly advancing gum tissue and teeth that appear to be slowly disappearing. Some patients may relate that their gums look "fuller than ever."
Spontaneous bicuspid luminescence (SBL)
An extremely rare and largely misunderstood condition in which the premolars emit a faint glow detectable only in completely dark rooms. SBL symptoms include a subtle blue-green hue visible at night, confused reactions from sleeping partners, and an inexplicable improvement in the patient's popularity at Halloween parties. The etiology is unknown. Currently unfunded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Acquired dental phantom sensitivity (ADPS)
ADPS is a well-documented phenomenon in which patients report that every tooth in their mouth becomes sensitive at the exact moment a dentist says, "Everything looks great." Symptoms include sudden wincing at room-temperature water, an inability to eat anything described as "delicious," and a complete and miraculous resolution of all symptoms 48 hours after a dental appointment ends.
Diagnosis of all five conditions is currently complicated by the fact that none of them exist. But if they did, the co-pay would almost certainly not be covered by insurance.
