Dental AI helps bring back elderly smiles

Cheng Wong

Elderly residents in Kwun Tong will soon benefit from dental examination services enhanced by artificial intelligence developed by the University of Hong Kong's faculty of dentistry.

The Dental AI Community Care Project aims to improve oral health awareness and prevent dental issues early among the elderly by utilizing Gum AI, an innovative oral check-up tool.

This tool can detect gum inflammation through tablets or smartphones, analyzing the health of teeth and gums in just a few seconds.

Results are presented in a clear, color-coded format: red indicates poor health, yellow suggests caution, and green signifies good health.

Over the next three months, at least 90 trained volunteers, including dental students, will visit three locations to provide four to six rounds of oral assessments for elderly residents using the AI check-up service.

Each session is expected to serve about 60 to 80 individuals with personalized care advice.

The designated locations include the activity room at Hing Tin Estate in Lam Tin, the clubhouse of Sceneway Garden, and either the Tsui Ping Center of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Hong Ling Society or the Sau Mau Ping Community Hall.

Jin Lijian, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at HKU, said that gum disease is a "silent" oral health issue, often only recognized when teeth become loose often too late for effective intervention.

Many elderly individuals remain unaware of the importance of regular dental check-ups.

Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu said that 40 percent of non-institutionalized elderly persons in Hong Kong experience gum bleeding in half or more of their teeth, with most not receiving regular dental check-ups due to high costs and lengthy waiting times for public dental services.

"The technology behind Gum AI allows the general public to better understand their oral health and facilitates rapid assessments," he said.

"This awareness benefits both volunteers and the elderly being examined."

Supported by the Lions Club of Tsing Ma Hong Kong, lawmakers Chan Pui-leung and Tang Ka-piu, district councilors Yu Siu-lun and Chu Lok-wai, and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Hong Ling Society, the project aims to expand its services to all 18 districts.

Barnis Yuen, President of the Lions Club of Tsing Ma Hong Kong, said that Kwun Tong was chosen as the project's starting point due to its underserved elderly population.

He expressed hopes for including students and citizens from various age groups in future initiatives.

The project team anticipates that Gum AI will facilitate easier access to dental check-up services for the elderly, reducing their reliance on dentists and potentially lowering long-term medical expenses for both individuals and the government.