Leveraging AI Tools for Emotion-Safe Dental Imaging: Enhancing Patient Communication While Preserving Anatomical Accuracy in Surgical Visualizations

Abstract

This paper presents a preliminary study developed within the SMART DENT project, in collaboration with Studio Parrulli, investigating how AI-supported visual redesign strategies can improve dental diagnostic communication while preserving clinically relevant anatomical information. The study examines patients’ emotional and cognitive responses to different types of dental diagnostic images, with a focus on visual realism and representation style. An initial exploratory phase assessed reactions to 39 real clinical images using AI-based facial expression analysis, showing that highly realistic images, particularly intraoral scans depicting damaged dentition or implant-related conditions, tend to elicit discomfort. Due to methodological limitations in micro-emotion detection, a questionnaire-based evaluation was adopted as the primary assessment tool. The questionnaire, completed by 35 adult patients, indicates that simplified images are preferred for emotionally impactful content, while remaining sufficiently clear to support understanding of the treatment. Familiar radiographic images such as panoramic X-rays and CBCT were generally perceived as emotionally neutral, reducing the need for visual simplification. Overall, the results suggest that AI-supported image simplification is most effective for photorealistic intraoral scans, supporting more accessible and emotionally considerate communication in digital dentistry.

Keywords: Emotional Safety In Medical Communication, Inclusive Design For Healthcare Communication, Patient-centred Communication, AI-based Dental Imaging Simplification, Dental Diagnostic Visualization

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007491