AI as a Teaching Tool for Tonsillolith Detection

Developing diagnostic accuracy is a core goal of dental education, yet students often struggle to identify tonsilloliths on panoramic radiographs. Their limited clinical experience, combined with traditional teaching methods that rely heavily on manual interpretation, frequently results in diagnostic errors and low confidence.

This project aims to improve student learning by incorporating AI tools into radiology training. We will compare how accurately and efficiently dental students detect tonsilloliths with and without AI support, while also gathering their perceptions of AI as a learning resource. Diagnostic performance will be measured quantitatively, and qualitative feedback will reveal how AI guidance affects understanding, confidence, and engagement. The central question is whether AI can help close the gap between novice and expert performance in radiographic interpretation.

The findings will inform curriculum development in dental radiology and support teaching approaches that prepare students to use AI confidently and competently in clinical practice.

AI as a Teaching Tool

Tonsillolith Detection 

AI and LLM Applications

Symposium on Data Science and Statistics (SDSS) 2026