Deep Learning for Caries Detection and Diagnosis

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, remains one of the most prevalent and preventable oral diseases globally. If undetected in early stages, it can lead to tooth loss, pain, and reduced quality of life. This chapter explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, specifically deep learning models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for the automated detection and diagnosis of dental caries from radiographic images. It provides a comprehensive understanding of caries pathology and clinical challenges, while also detailing AI model development, dataset requirements, and real-world applications in dental diagnostics. The chapter emphasizes how AI-driven tools can enhance diagnostic accuracy, support clinical decision-making, and ultimately improve oral health outcomes, particularly in the context of dental health tourism.