The association has released a position paper to guide the responsible development and implementation of artificial intelligence in clinical care.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has published a position paper, “Responsible Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontic Clinical Practice,” to address the challenges of implementing new AI technologies. The paper provides guidance for clinicians on selecting and using AI products while maintaining regulatory compliance, patient safety, and privacy.
A Framework for Responsible Integration
Authored by the AAO Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontics, the paper offers professional guidance for the development, implementation, and oversight of AI in clinical settings. While not a regulatory document, it establishes a framework to support ethical adoption, patient safety, and professional accountability.
The paper outlines four main objectives:
- Preserve professional authority by ensuring the orthodontist remains the final decision-maker in patient care.
- Promote transparency in AI development by emphasizing the role of vendors in validating and monitoring AI technologies.
- Protect patient safety through clear, risk-based recommendations for the clinical integration of AI tools.
- Establish a principles-based framework that identifies the orthodontist as the “Human-in-Command” (HIC) at the point of care.
“The Board reviewed the paper and would like to commend the task force’s excellent work addressing the many complexities of the clinical use of AI, including responsibilities of the orthodontist and industry and regulatory entities,” says Steven Siegel, DMD, president of the AAO, in a release. “Requirements specific to the orthodontist include alignment with standards of care, ethical and regulatory obligations and compliance with licensure requirements.”
The Task Force on Artificial Intelligence is chaired by Dr Heather Hopkins. Members include Dr Jonas Bianchi, Dr Lucia Cevedanes, Dr Jae Park, Dr Anthony Puntillo, Dr Mario Tai, and digital dentistry technology experts Ryan Goy, Frank Hemm, and Zelko Relic. Dr Lisa Alvetro, chair of the AAO Committee on Technology (CTech), provided oversight.
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