New robotic and AI tools will help make dentists more informed and efficient, but the judgment, adaptability and patient trust that define the profession will remain human, no matter how good the technology becomes, according to this dentist.
Sibera Branoon, DDS, owner and dentist of Affordable Dentures & Implants in Bullhead City and Sun City, Ariz., recently shared with Becker’s why he sees AI and robots as clinical partners, not a successor.
Note: Dr. Brannon’s response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Which aspects of dentistry do you think AI and/or robots could eventually take over completely, and where will a dentist never be replaced?
Sibera Brannon, DDS. Owner and Dentist of Affordable Dentures & Implants (Sun City, Ariz.): AI will become an extraordinary clinical partner, improving diagnostics, treatment planning, administrative efficiency and helping personalize care based on each patient’s medical condition, financial considerations and treatment goals. Robotics will also continue to enhance precision in structured procedures, such as guided implant placement, where systems like Yomi have already demonstrated meaningful value.
However, I don’t believe AI or robotics will completely replace the dentist during my practicing lifetime. Dentistry is far more than executing a predetermined plan. It requires continuous clinical judgment, adaptability and creativity — especially during surgery, where anatomy, tissue response and unexpected findings often require immediate adjustments. Those real-time decisions rely on experience, intuition and critical thinking that are difficult to automate.
Even exciting advances such as biologically regenerated teeth won’t eliminate the need for dentists. They will simply provide us with better tools. Whether restoring a tooth, placing an implant, or one day managing regenerative therapies, the clinician will still be responsible for diagnosis, decision-making, execution and ultimately the patient’s outcome.
I believe AI will elevate the standard of care by making dentists more informed and more efficient. But the responsibility for applying wisdom, exercising sound clinical judgment and building trust with patients will remain uniquely human.
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