Federal Grant Allotted to University of Raleigh's Computer Science and Environmental Health Department for Employing Artificial Intelligence to Minimize Oral Health Inequalities
In an ambitious project funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Rochester are developing a smartphone app called SMARTeeth. The aim is to reduce oral health disparities among underserved racial and ethnic minorities by providing an accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use tool for early tooth decay detection.
The infrastructure of the project combines the use of artificial intelligence technology via smartphones with community engagement through interactive oral health community centers, mobile vans, and community health workers. This approach aims to democratize dental health screening, reduce barriers to care, and ultimately decrease the prevalence and consequences of tooth decay in disadvantaged populations.
One of the key features of SMARTeeth is its ability to analyze images of teeth taken with a smartphone, enabling users to detect early signs of tooth decay without needing immediate professional dental visits. By leveraging widely available smartphones, the app makes oral health screening accessible to populations who may face barriers such as lack of dental insurance, limited access to dental clinics, or geographic isolation.
Underserved racial and ethnic minorities often experience higher rates of untreated dental issues due to socioeconomic and systemic factors. The app helps bridge this gap by facilitating early intervention and promoting timely care. In addition, by providing a convenient way to monitor oral health, SMARTeath empowers individuals to take proactive steps in managing their dental health, potentially preventing progression of decay through early treatment.
The project also includes the development of a low-income community serving infrastructure, with the establishment of interactive oral health community centers during the three-year study. The study will focus on creating supportive environments outside traditional dental care settings.
The app can collect data to help public health officials and researchers understand patterns of tooth decay in underserved communities, which may inform targeted outreach and resources. The study will assess outcomes related to technology use and community engagement, with the ultimate goal of empowering community self-care by reorienting health services from curative to preventive.
Children with tooth decay experience pain that impacts their ability to chew, sleep, and learn. Severe tooth decay, also known as Early Childhood Caries, is a common preventable disease that is on the rise worldwide. The harmful effects of tooth decay can have substantial adverse impacts on children, families, and healthcare systems. By reducing the severity of tooth decay and dental disease-related emergencies, SMARTeeth aims to improve the overall health and wellbeing of underserved communities.
The study is led by Jiebo Luo, PhD, a professor at the University of Rochester's Computer Science department, with the collaboration of Michael Mendoza, MD, MPH, Monroe County's Public Health commissioner, Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH, a professor of Family Medicine, and Timothy Dye, PhD, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In addition to the virtual dental visits available through the app, the project also includes the use of AI technology for population-wide dental screening and early detection. This approach has the potential to significantly improve oral health outcomes in underserved communities, ultimately leading to a healthier and more equitable society.
- The smartphone app SMARTeeth, developed by researchers at the University of Rochester, combines artificial intelligence technology and community engagement to offer an accessible and affordable solution for early tooth decay detection among underserved racial and ethnic minorities.
- By using smartphones for oral health screening, SMARTeeth breaks down barriers to care, such as lack of dental insurance or limited access to dental clinics, thereby promoting timely care and preventing tooth decay in disadvantaged populations.
- In collaboration with public health officials and researchers, the data collected by SMARTeeth can help inform targeted outreach and resources, ensuring a more equitable society with improved oral health outcomes.
- The project also incorporates education and self-development, as the app provides users with knowledge about oral health and empowers them to take proactive steps in managing their dental health.
- The implementation of SMARTeeth, in combination with technology like data-and-cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence, represents a significant step forward in the field of health-and-wellness, specifically fitness-and-exercise and nutrition, as it promotes preventive care and overall wellbeing.
