Core Principle 5: Education and Clinical AI Competency
As licensed healthcare professionals, orthodontists carry both an ethical obligation to patients and legal accountability for the technologies they integrate into care. The profession must ensure that every orthodontist possesses the knowledge and judgment to evaluate, implement, and provide Human-in-Command (HIC) oversight at the point of care when using AI clinical tools
12 Opportunities To Learn About AI Right Here in Orlando
Clinical and Practice Uses
The AI Era: Separating Sense from Sensation in Orthodontics
Speakers: Drs. Lucia Cevidanes and Jonas Bianchi
Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 8:00am – 8:45am
Location: OCCC Chapin Theater – Level 3
Overview: As the AI boom accelerates, it becomes essential to distinguish between the truly transformative applications and those that may be driven more by hype than tangible benefit. Emphasizing data transparency and ethical AI implementation, we will demonstrate how to critically evaluate tools, optimize workflows, and make informed decisions about AI integration. Attendees will learn practical strategies for using open-source AI to improve patient outcomes and enhance clinical precision. Join us to discover how the use of AI can help your clinical practice and ensure the highest standard of patient-centered care. This presentation highlights innovative, cost-effective AI applications that empower clinicians to diagnose complex cases, predict growth patterns, and simulate treatment outcomes using data from CBCT, 3D models, and patient records.
AI Panel Discussion – AAO Committee on Technology (CTech) Chair Dr. Lisa Alvetro moderates a panel of experts discussing the practical implications of the AAO Position Paper: Responsible Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontic Clinical Practice
Panelists include: Dr. Heather Stone Hopkins, Chair of AAO AI Task Force and member of CTech, Dr. Jonas Bianchi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and member of the AAO AI Task Force and Vijay Dhaka, CADflow.ai CEO and member of the AAO CTech
(Not for CE)
Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: OCCC Room W307 – Level 3
10 Tips to Perfect your AI Love Story
Speaker: Karthik Vinayagamoorthi, BTech, MBA
Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 12:30pm – 1:45pm (ticket required)
Location: OCCC Room W414A – Level 4
Overview: AI is everywhere. How can an orthodontic practice actually use it in a practical, compliant, and patient-friendly way? This interactive session will explore simple, real-world ways AI can support the patient intake process while remaining HIPAA compliant. Using a creative “love story” format, participants will receive hands-on AI prompts between story segments to see how small inputs lead to different outcomes in an AI-supported workflow. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with Wi-Fi access to try the exercises in real time. The focus is not on technical expertise, but on understanding how AI fits into everyday intake workflows and how staff can use it to improve patient experience.
Using Artificial Intelligence & 3D Printing to Improve Your Diagnosis & Treatment Planning
Speaker: Dr. Scott Conley
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 8:00AM-8:45AM
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: 3D imaging with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has dramatically improved our visualization of orthodontic problems, however limitations and uncertainty remain. CBCT images can be manually segmented to show specific locations of interest and proximity to adjacent structures however, it is a time consuming process. New artificial intelligence (AI) based software programs are currently available that can produce very similar segmentations while saving the clinician valuable time. Once the segmentations are completed, clinicians can then export and print models of the teeth without the overlying bone in order to clearly discern tooth positioning and the force vectors necessary to obtain the desired movement. Clinical cases and clinical workflow will be presented to enhance the doctor and clinical staff teams ability to potentially reduce risks and treatment and increase patient understanding of the orthodontic problem. Specific attention will be given to management of impacted teeth, periodontal dehiscences and fenestrations, and finally orthognathic surgery.
AI-Powered Solutions for Customized Orthodontic Treatment
Speaker: Dr. Tarek ElShebiny
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 9:00AM-9:45AM
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: Artificial intelligence is transforming orthodontics by enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and clinical decision-making. This session will demonstrate how validated AI tools can streamline diagnosis, imaging, treatment planning, virtual tooth movement, indirect bonding, and virtual debonding. Participants will learn how merging intraoral scans with CBCT data of bone and roots allows for truly customized, biologically guided treatment planning.
Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontics: From Algorithm Development to Clinical Applications, Revolutionizing Diagnosis, Biomechanics, and Treatment Planning
Speaker: Dr. Mohammed Elnagar
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 10:00AM-10:45AM
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare and orthodontics by enhancing diagnosis, optimizing treatment planning, and streamlining digital workflows. This lecture will highlight advances in AI applications for orthodontics, with a focus on models developed by our team for dental and orthodontic diagnosis, imaging analysis, and treatment monitoring. We will introduce a novel CBCT-based approach for growth prediction using three skeletal growth indicators, as well as explore AI-driven tools for biomechanics and treatment planning, including generative models capable of producing predictive post-treatment radiographs and images. In addition, we will present a comprehensive AI-powered system designed for orthodontic practices, demonstrating how AI can enhance appliance design, improve clinical efficiency, and elevate patient care. Evidence-based research, clinical trials, and case studies will support the presented concepts.
Developing a Fully Automated Al System for Skeletal Maturity Assessment Using CBCT
Speaker: Dr. Amanda Nikho
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 11:30AM-11:45AM
Location: OCCC Room W312A – Level 3
Overview: Skeletal maturity assessment is critical for orthodontic treatment planning and is performed using biological markers, i.e., the cervical vertebrae maturity (CVM) and spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS). Manual staging is expertise-dependent and can be inaccurate; therefore, automation would be of great assistance. Our study seeks to develop deep learning algorithms for classifying CVM and SOS, with the highest-performing architectures achieving 88% for CVM and 83% for SOS. This work introduces the very first automation for SOS staging and a novel architecture for CVM classification. These pipelines improve efficiency and accuracy while minimizing labor required from clinicians.
Automated Bone Age Classification Using Transfer Learning on Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs: A Comparative Study of Eight CNN Architecture
Speaker: Hanife Yilmaz
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 11:45AM – 12:00PM
Location: OCCC Room W312A – Level 3
Overview: This lecture compares eight transfer learning-based CNN architectures for automatic bone age classification from lateral cephalometric radiographs. Participants will evaluate the trade-offs between high accuracy models and lightweight alternatives to determine the most effective AI tools for clinical applications.
The Orthodontic Intelligence Stack: From Computer Vision to Clinical Answers
Speaker: Dr. Melih Motro
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 12:30pm – 1:15pm
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: This presentation explores the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality (AR), and computer vision in orthodontics. We showcase an early-stage, custom-tuned Large Language Model (LLM) developed at Boston University that provides context-aware answers to orthodontic questions and surfaces relevant scientific references—supporting both clinical curiosity and resident education. In parallel, we demonstrate and discuss the clinical and educational impact of AI-driven computer vision tools that we developed and integrated with AR technologies, which support real-time visualization, image understanding, and interaction with orthodontic data. Together, these innovations form the basis of a next-generation orthodontic workflow that enhances diagnostic insight, educational interactivity, and clinical engagement. Join us to learn how these emerging technologies are shaping the future of smarter, more connected orthodontic care.
Redefining Expertise: The Role of Data in the Art of Orthodontics
Speaker: Dr. Alfred Griffin, III
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 1:30pm – 2:15pm
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: Has anyone ever heard the phrase “what keeps folks from changing is that they’ve mastered the past”? The world is changing as data is used to create daily efficiencies, and orthodontic treatment will have the same opportunity.
Bridging Algorithms and Expertise: How AI is Shaping Evidence-Based Orthodontic Treatment and Digital Workflows
Speaker: Dr. Jorge Aguirre
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how orthodontists diagnose, plan, and deliver treatment. Far from a futuristic concept, AI—particularly large language models (LLMs) and image-based algorithms—has become an everyday tool that supports clinical reasoning, automates routine processes, and expands access to data-driven insights. From automated cephalometric analysis and growth prediction to intelligent aligner staging and treatment outcome simulation, these technologies are reshaping orthodontic practice at every level.
This session explores how AI can strengthen evidence-based orthodontics by improving diagnostic accuracy, enhancing digital workflow efficiency, and supporting decision-making with real-time, evidence-linked feedback. We will examine specific applications including automated landmark detection with 95%+ accuracy rates, AI-powered malocclusion classification systems, and machine learning models that predict treatment duration and stability. Drawing from peer-reviewed studies, multicenter trials, and real clinical cases, attendees will learn to critically assess AI-generated recommendations, understand their inherent limitations and biases, and navigate FDA regulatory considerations for AI-assisted devices.
Emphasis will be placed on the crucial synergy between algorithmic intelligence and human expertise—where the orthodontist remains the ultimate decision-maker, interpreting AI outputs within the context of individual patient needs, preferences, and biological variability. We will address key ethical considerations including data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and maintaining the doctor–patient relationship in an increasingly digital environment.
Participants will leave with practical frameworks for incorporating AI responsibly into aligner planning, diagnostic imaging interpretation, and treatment monitoring workflows. They will gain actionable strategies for evaluating AI tools, understanding quality metrics, and implementing safeguards against overreliance on automated systems. This session offers a renewed vision of how orthodontists can lead the evolution of intelligent, ethical, and evidence-driven care—while preserving the artistry and clinical judgment that define our specialty.
Advancing Orthodontic Precision: AI-Driven Innovations in Treatment Planning and Execution
Speaker: Dr. Mehdi Peikar
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 3:30pm – 4:15pm
Location: OCCC Room W308 – Level 3
Overview: Artificial intelligence is transforming orthodontics by enabling unprecedented levels of precision, efficiency, and customization. This session explores how AI algorithms can optimize treatment planning, automate appliance design, and enhance clinical decision-making. Attendees will learn how data-driven systems are improving treatment outcomes, reducing chair time, and simplifying complex biomechanics. Real clinical examples will illustrate how AI can integrate seamlessly into daily orthodontic workflows.