Ready to Bring Your Dental Practice Into the Future with AI?
AI is no longer a buzzword on the horizon — it’s already here, transforming how dentistry is practiced, how workflows are structured, and how trust is built with patients. In this thought-provoking episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, host Dan Brian sits down with Dr. Shervin Molayem, a practicing periodontist and serial entrepreneur in the dental tech space, to explore the seismic shifts that AI is bringing to dental care.
Dr. Molayem’s insights offer a glimpse into the near future, one where technology enhances clinical judgment, improves patient experience, and reduces subjectivity in diagnosis and treatment planning. Whether you’re an early adopter or a seasoned practitioner wary of change, this episode delivers practical takeaways and a compelling vision for what’s ahead.
Meet Dr. Shervin Molayem: Periodontist, Entrepreneur, and AI Trailblazer
Dr. Shervin Molayem isn’t just another voice in the dental AI space — he’s helping build it from the ground up. A board-certified periodontist with 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Molayem has spent the last five years immersed in dental technology. From launching ventures in teledentistry and dental staffing (like Cloud Dentistry) to developing cutting-edge AI-driven diagnostic and probing tools, he’s redefining what it means to practice in the modern era.
His latest ventures, including Trust AI and consultation with robotics innovators like Perceptive, aim to bring objectivity and precision to areas long plagued by inconsistency.
AI Is Touching Every Corner of the Practice
Dr. Molayem emphasized that AI is not just a diagnostic tool — it’s reshaping the entire workflow of a dental practice:
Recent Innovations
- Smart probing: One of Dr. Molayem’s projects involves an AI-powered periodontal probe that automates pocket depth readings. This reduces reliance on manual, error-prone input and eliminates the need for a second assistant to record findings.
- Mobility assessment: Another technology uses sound wave feedback to objectively measure tooth mobility — a task that is otherwise highly subjective.
The End of Subjectivity in Diagnostics
Traditional diagnostics rely heavily on human interpretation, which can vary widely. AI tools now allow for:
- Standardized probing with pressure sensors
- Objectivity in mobility scoring
- Improved radiograph interpretation — AI can detect pathology with up to 90% accuracy, compared to 50% by humans alone
This level of precision doesn’t just streamline treatment planning — it enhances patient trust and leads to better outcomes.
Introducing Trust AI: Building Confidence Through Data
Trust AI is Dr. Molayem’s answer to one of dentistry’s thorniest issues: patient distrust due to inconsistent diagnoses. When a patient sees five different dentists and gets five different treatment plans, it erodes confidence.
Standardizing Treatment Planning
Trust AI aims to:
- Analyze patient data from radiographs, probing, and medical history
- Offer tiered treatment plans (aggressive, conservative, and maintenance-focused)
- Generate a Trust Score to indicate the reliability of the recommendation
Rather than replacing the dentist, the AI acts as a “copilot” — a “thinking partner” to help interpret findings and offer options based on large-scale data.
Enhancing Human Processing, Not Replacing It
Dr. Molayem stressed that AI should augment dentists, not displace them. These tools enhance decision-making and reduce stress by shouldering the cognitive load of sifting through complex data.
Dental Robotics Are Coming—Sooner Than You Think
One of the most jaw-dropping parts of the episode? The timeline for dental robotics.
Dr. Molayem predicts that by 2028, practices could begin using robotic tools for certain procedures. Companies like Perceptive are already trialing a groundbreaking scanner using OCT (optical coherence tomography), which captures ultra-precise 3D images without ionizing radiation. This scanner will form the basis for AI-guided robotic treatment.
A Lease-Based Model to Democratize Access
According to Dr. Molayem, Perceptive’s robots won’t require a six-figure upfront investment. Instead, practices will lease the equipment, making it financially viable for early adopters.
Regulatory Catch-Up: A Race Against Innovation
Dr. Molayem likened the current moment in dentistry to the early days of self-driving cars or Bitcoin — technology is moving faster than regulators. But he remains confident that agencies like the FDA and state dental boards will eventually catch up, particularly as evidence of improved accuracy and outcomes continues to mount.
The Oral-Systemic Connection Meets AI
As a periodontist, Dr. Molayem is deeply invested in the oral-systemic link. He sees AI playing a pivotal role in moving this conversation forward.
Integrating Medical and Dental Data
- Genetic testing: AI can assess risks based on genetic markers like IL-6, which increases periodontal risk.
- Microbiome analysis: Saliva tests can detect harmful bacteria like P. gingivalis.
- CBCT integration: AI can interpret airway data and anatomical anomalies that contribute to mouth breathing, bruxism, and implant planning.
- Medical history sync: AI will help synthesize data on medications, systemic disease, and nutrition to improve personalized care.
Getting Started with AI: Practical Tools for Every Dentist
Feeling overwhelmed? Dr. Molayem recommends starting small.
Try the Free Chat Tool from Trust AI
Available at trustdentistry.ai, this chat-based tool offers:
- Evidence-backed answers to clinical questions
- No “hallucinations” or made-up information (unlike general-purpose tools like ChatGPT)
- A true “thinking partner” that understands uploaded x-rays and PDFs for real-time collaboration
TLDR: Episode Summary and Takeaways
AI is revolutionizing dentistry — not in the future, but right now. Dr. Shervin Molayem outlines a clear vision for how AI will enhance clinical workflows, build trust with patients, and elevate diagnostic and treatment planning standards. His ventures, including Trust AI, offer a preview of a future where technology and dentistry are truly integrated.
Key Takeaways:
- AI is already reshaping workflows from staffing to diagnostics.
- Trust AI offers objective, data-driven treatment plans to enhance patient trust.
- Robotics in dentistry could be a reality by 2028, thanks to new 3D scanning tech.
- AI will improve recognition of the oral-systemic link by synthesizing multi-source data.
- Dentists should start by exploring simple, free tools like Trust AI’s chat platform.
Ready to Bring Your Dental Practice Into the Future?
Schedule a free strategy call with DentalScapes today. We help practices like yours grow with innovative, AI-driven online marketing solutions — so you can spend less time worrying about new patient flow and more time embracing the future of dentistry. Let’s build a smarter, more scalable practice together.