The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Department of Restorative Dentistry and Comprehensive Care has been named the recipient of a 2025–2026 Innovation in Education Award from the University of Pittsburgh Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence (ACIE) for their project entitled "Artificial Intelligence as a Clinical Teaching Tool for Interpreting Dental Radiographs".
The initiative will integrate artificial intelligence into dental radiograph instruction, with the intent to help students build stronger clinical judgment, improve diagnostic accuracy, and gain confidence in interpreting x-rays. By combining faculty-calibrated AI software with traditional instruction, students will receive immediate, standardized feedback that accelerates learning and supports core accreditation goals.
Key benefits of the program include:
- Real-time, AI-guided feedback on radiograph interpretation
- A consistent platform for faculty calibration and student learning
- Enhanced diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making
- Faster development of essential skills that improve patient care
This novel project is being planned and implemented by several key Pitt Dental Medicine faculty and staff members: Dr. Kevin Pursel, project director; Dr. Sarah Essek Grafton, department chair; Dr. Pam Tisot, Dr. Katie Ryan Eddens, Dr. Doug Kistler, Dr. Suzann McGeary, and Mr. Patrick Hetherington.
The AI technology powering this initiative has been developed by Pearl, a leader in dental AI solutions. Pearl’s software is the first FDA-cleared AI platform capable of detecting disease in dental x-rays and is approved for use in more than 120 countries.