JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing health care and dentistry, particularly in education, radiographic interpretation, literature search, treatment planning support, documentation, and patient communication. However, the successful implementation of AI in dental education and clinical practice depends not only on technological development, but also on users’ knowledge, attitudes, readiness, perceived benefits, ethical concerns, and educational needs.

Objective:

This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, readiness, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, ethical concerns, and educational needs related to AI in dentistry among dental students, recent dental graduates, and young dentists from Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional formative survey was conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire. The target population included dental students, recent dental graduates, practicing dentists, and residents or specialists in dentistry. The questionnaire assessed demographic and professional characteristics, previous exposure to AI, knowledge about AI in dentistry, attitudes toward AI, readiness to use AI, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and ethical concerns, and educational needs. Likert-scale items were coded from 1 to 5, and domain scores were calculated as mean values. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, AI exposure, and domain scores.

Results:

A total of 235 participants were included in the analysis. Most participants were female (155/235, 66%), and the mean age was 25.2 years. Overall, 206 participants (87.7%) had previously heard of AI, and 164 participants (69.8%) had used AI-based tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or similar platforms. However, only 31 participants (13.2%) reported receiving formal education or training about AI in dentistry or health care. The highest mean domain score was observed for educational needs (mean 4.31, SD 0.21), followed by barriers and ethical concerns (mean 4.25, SD 0.18), attitudes toward AI (mean 4.17, SD 0.20), and perceived benefits (mean 4.04, SD 0.21). Lower scores were observed for readiness to use AI (mean 3.78, SD 0.24) and knowledge about AI in dentistry (mean 3.55, SD 0.38).

Conclusions:

Dental students and young dentists from Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia demonstrated high awareness of AI and generally positive attitudes toward its future role in dentistry. However, formal AI education was uncommon, and self-reported knowledge and readiness were lower than attitudes, perceived benefits, and educational needs. These findings suggest a gap between interest in AI and structured preparedness for its safe use in dental education and clinical practice. AI implementation in dentistry should be accompanied by formal training, validated tools, ethical guidance, data protection measures, and clear professional guidelines.