Global Trends in the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Dental Education: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GAI) in dental education through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, with the goal of identifying potential future research areas in this field. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, with no date restrictions. The inclusion criteria encompassed research articles, reviews and proceedings papers focused on the use of AI in dental education. The Bibliometrix R package was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 54 documents were analysed, revealing a significant increase in publications from 2021 to 2024. The Journal of Dental Education was identified as the most prolific source, with the United States leading in terms of contributions. The findings showed a growing interest in AI's potential to transform dental education, with significant contributions from a diverse set of global authors and institutions. Several key themes were identified, including ‘large language models’, ‘chatbots’ and ‘clinical decision support systems’. The citation analysis highlighted influential papers, including those by Thurzo et al. (2023) and Yüzbaşıoğlu (2021). Conclusion: There is a growing interest in the use of AI and GAI in dental education. However, further research, particularly experimental studies, is essential to fully understand their impact on educational outcomes in dentistry. Key areas for exploration include the application of AI for personalised learning, the integration of chatbots as educational tools to support students, and the use of AI for training and assessing practical skills.