From Braces to Bots: How AI Is Transforming Orthodontics at Seton Hill University

By Dr. Beth Troy, Assistant Professor and Clinic Director and Nicole Doherty, Orthodontic Marketing and Insurance Coordinator

Orthodontics has always been the thoughtful blend of science and artistry: a balance of clinical expertise, intuition, and technical precision. But something new is happening in orthodontics across the globe. Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. It is actively reshaping how orthodontists diagnose, treatment plan, and care for patients, and our program at Seton Hill University Center for Orthodontics is at the forefront of understanding how to use it wisely.

Think of AI in orthodontics less like a robot taking over and more like a very fast, very thorough second opinion.

Here are the areas where AI is making the biggest impact in our program:

Intraoral Scanning: Modern intraoral scanners use AI algorithms to stitch together hundreds of individual images into a seamless, accurate 3D model of a patient's teeth in real time. AI also helps identify individual teeth within the scan, which is crucial for planning clear aligner therapy (Invisalign) and simulating how teeth will move.

Clear Aligner Planning: Products like Invisalign use AI to plan and simulate tooth movement. Clear aligner software is increasingly AI-driven, from treatment simulation to aligner fabrication.

Customized Brackets: AI can analyze digital dental scans to design brackets customized to each individual patient's tooth anatomy. The result is a bracket with a built-in prescription based on the desired final tooth position, which potentially means more precise movement, less adjustments, and shorter treatment time.

AI-Assisted Indirect Bonding: In this workflow, AI places bracket positions on digital scans, human technicians refine them, and the orthodontist makes final decisions. This collaborative human-AI approach streamlines the process while keeping the clinician in control.

Remote Monitoring: AI-powered monitoring tools allow patients to scan their own teeth at home and send images to the clinic. The AI analyzes and sorts these images, identifies whether treatment is progressing as planned and can send customized instructions to patients between appointments. These instructions are varied and may include suggestions for better oral hygiene or recommendations on increased wear of rubber bands. This benefits patients with clear aligners as well as those in traditional braces.

AI is changing what it means to be an orthodontist, and the Center for Orthodontics is thoughtfully preparing residents for this reality. For residents, the goal is to master foundational clinical skills first and to be confident orthodontists who can function expertly with or without AI tools. The program emphasizes skills that humans perform best: empathy, complex reasoning, ethical judgment, patient communication, and hands-on skills. Residents are trained to critically evaluate AI outputs rather than accept them blindly, to understand the "black box" problem (knowing that AI can give you an answer without showing you why), and to be prepared for situations where AI may be limited, unavailable, or wrong. The Center has developed an AI policy and accompanying checklist to guide residents on appropriate use, ensuring that AI enhances their education, rather than shortchanging it.

At Seton Hill University's Center for Orthodontics, we believe the future of orthodontics belongs to practitioners who combine deep clinical expertise with thoughtful, critical use of emerging technologies. AI is a powerful tool. Like all powerful tools, it works best in skilled, responsible hands.