Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40802701›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging modalities: An umbrella review with meta-analysis.

Sarah Arzani, Ali Karimi, Pedram Iranmanesh, Maryam Yazdi, Mohammad A Sabeti, Mohammad Hossein Nekoofar, Jafar Kolahi, Heejung Bang, Paul M H Dummer

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sarah ArzaniChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0014-471X
Ali KarimiMaxillogram Maxillofacial Surgery, Implantology and Biomaterial Research Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey.
Pedram IranmaneshDepartment of Endodontics, Dental Research Center, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Maryam YazdiChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3961-6702
Mohammad A SabetiAdvanced Specialty Program in Endodontics, UCSF School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Mohammad Hossein NekoofarDepartment of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Jafar KolahiIndependent Research Scientist, Founder of Dental Hypotheses, Isfahan, Iran.
Heejung BangDivision of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America.
Paul M H DummerEmeritus Professor of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review was to systematically collect and analyze multiple published systematic reviews to address the following research question "Are artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms effective for the detection of dental caries?". A systematic search of five electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, was conducted until October 15, 2024, with a language restriction to English. All fourteen systematic reviews which assessed the performance of AI algorithms for the detection of dental caries were included. From 137 primary original research studies within the systematic reviews, only 20 reported the data necessary for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity was 0.85 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.83 to 0.93), specificity was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85 to 0.95), and log diagnostic odds ratio was 4.37 (95% CI: 3.16 to 6.27). Area under the summary ROC curve was 0.86. Positive post-test probability was 79% and negative post-test probability was 6%. In conclusion, this meta-analysis has revealed that caries diagnosis using AI is accurate and its use in clinical practice is justified. Future studies should focus on specific subpopulations, depth of caries, and real-world performance validation to further improve the accuracy of AI in caries diagnosis.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceDental CariesAlgorithmsHumansROC CurveSensitivity and Specificity

Identifiers

PMID40802701
PMCPMC12349118

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.