Deep learning improves implant classification by dental professionals: a multi-center evaluation of accuracy and efficiency

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the accuracy performance of dental professionals in the classification of different types of dental implant systems (DISs) using panoramic radiographic images with and without the assistance of a deep learning (DL) algorithm. Methods: Using a self-reported questionnaire, the classification accuracy of dental professionals (including 5 board-certified periodontists, 8 periodontology residents, and 31 dentists not specialized in implantology working at 3 dental hospitals) with and without the assistance of an automated DL algorithm were determined and compared. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, confusion matrix, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and area under the ROC curves were calculated to evaluate the classification performance of the DL algorithm and dental professionals. Results: Using the DL algorithm led to a statistically significant improvement in the average classification accuracy of DISs (mean accuracy: 78.88%) compared to that without the assistance of the DL algorithm (mean accuracy: 63.13%, P<0.05). In particular, when assisted by the DL algorithm, board-certified periodontists (mean accuracy: 88.56%) showed higher average accuracy than did the DL algorithm, and dentists not specialized in implantology (mean accuracy: 77.83%) showed the largest improvement, reaching an average accuracy similar to that of the algorithm (mean accuracy: 80.56%). Conclusions: The automated DL algorithm classified DISs with accuracy and performance comparable to those of board-certified periodontists, and it may be useful for dental professionals for the classification of various types of DISs encountered in clinical practice.