We have run through two articles previously with one talking about Navigating the AI shift and another dwelling on the Durable Human Skills that are likely to come in handy. Let us use the case study of Dental Surgery as a specialisation by showing how AI is likely to affect it.
AI may not replace a dental surgeon but a dental surgeon that embraces AI will replace one who does not. We explore how AI will impact the day to day job as well as which durable skills will separate an average dentist from an exceptional one.
AI will most likely not hold the drill but act more as a super assistant in the background. Practically, it will undertake some of the following:
Diagnostics: AI imaging software can already read X-Rays and CBCT Scans to detect early cavities, periodontal bone loss and even bone cancers with great accuracy, often spotting things that the human eye may miss. As it highlights the problem areas, the surgeon correlates that with the patient’s actual symptoms, medical history and overall health.
Predictive Treatment planning: For complex procedures like implant placement and orthodontics, AI will stimulate bone density among other variables to suggest the optimal surgical trajectory by running various “what if” scenarios.
Robotics Assistance: There are already robotic arms assisting in implant surgeries. providing micro stability that eliminates human hand tremors. The surgeon guides as the robot handles the millimeter perfect execution.
In all this, what Durable Human Skills are ideal for the Dental Surgeon of the future?
In a world where an AI can read a scan better and a robot can drill straighter, the value of the surgeon shifts entirely to the human to human experience. Here are the four skills they need to cultivate on top of their surgical finesse:
Emotional Empathy & Chairside Manner (EQ)
Dental anxiety is one of the most common phobias in the world. Each time I have personally gone to the dentist, I always anticipate lots of things happening inside my mouth thereby driving up my fear. AI cannot feel a patient’s fear, nor can it soothe a trembling adult or a fidgeting child.
A future dentist must master the art of psychological safety through reading micro-expressions, using calming language, explaining procedures without triggering panic, and building deep trust so patients actually return for preventative care. If it means singing the Kipepeo or Bread & Butter songs for the patient to calm down, be ready to do so.
In the future, patients will pay a premium for a surgeon who makes them feel safe, not just for a clean filling.
Complex Clinical Judgment & Nuance
AI may read an X-ray, see a shadow that suggests a cavity and go ahead to conclude. However, the human surgeon will ask deeper questions like;
– Is this an active cavity that needs drilling, or a static stain that can be monitored?
– Does this patient have a heart condition that changes my anesthesia choice?
– Is this 80-year-old patient strong enough for a 3-hour implant surgery, or is a denture a safer, more humane option?
These are ethical, holistic, and highly contextual decisions that AI’s pattern-matching cannot make.
High-Stakes Adaptability and Problem Solving
Surgery is unpredictable, moreso in countries like Uganda. A crown fractures unexpectedly. A root canal reveals an extra, twisted canal that wasn’t on the scan. The power goes out and the hospital generator has no fuel.
The durable skill here is composure under pressure and improvisation. The surgeon must be able to pivot their surgical plan in real-time, using their hands and their brain simultaneously. AI cannot handle the curveballs of biological variation.
Clear, Translational Communication (Storytelling)
When a patient needs a 10 Million Shillings treatment plan, they often say “no” because they don’t understand the value or the consequences.
The best dentist is a storyteller. They can take complex medical jargon and translate it into a compelling narrative: “If we don’t address this now, here is what will happen in 3 years. Here is how this implant will let you eat meat again and laugh without covering your mouth.”
Persuasion and education will be their greatest tools for getting patients to accept life-changing treatment. AI cannot do this with the emotional intensity of a human.
For anyone heading to dental school, you have to think like a Techno-Humanist Surgeon. How should you enhance your education?
Embrace the Tech, Don’t Fear It: You don’t need to become a software engineer, however, any opportunity that comes up for you to interface with AI systems, jump onto it with both your hands and feet. Get comfortable with AI until it feels like a second nature by the time you graduate.
Study Psychology and Communication: Many pre-dental students focus on hard sciences (which is great), however, taking a class in psychology, care giving or even comedy can be helpful. Learning to read a room and adapting your communication style is just as important as knowing the anatomy of the mandible.
Develop your “Non-Dominant” Brain: While you perfect your manual expertise like tooth drilling, you should also cultivate artistic hobbies like painting, drawing or playing a musical instrument. Aesthetics matter in dentistry. Hence creating a beautiful, natural-looking smile is an art, not a science. AI cannot replicate artistic vision.
Bottom line:
AI will make you faster, more accurate, and less prone to errors. But it will never build the trusting relationship that keeps a family coming to you for three generations. (This is how serious health professionals have maintained their businesses across multiple generations.)
Your hands will do the surgery, but your heart and your mind will build the practice. Dentistry is moving from a technical trade to a relational health profession. If you lean hard into your empathy, judgment, and adaptability, you won’t just survive the AI revolution, you will become the most sought-after dentist.
If you want us to explore another profession, suggest in the comment section.
James Wire
Agribusiness & Technology Consultant
X – @wirejames
The Wire Perspective 