A new bibliometric analysis reveals that artificial intelligence research in endodontics, heavily driven by Chinese institutions, has exploded since 2020. While deep learning dominates current work, the emergence of natural language processing signals a strategic pivot toward more intelligent, automated clinical workflows.
Chinese scientists have systematically charted the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) within endodontics, uncovering a field in rapid transformation. A comprehensive bibliometric study published in the International Endodontic Journal, covering publications from 1990 to August 2025, found that AI-related research in this dental specialty was almost nonexistent before 2020. Since then, a surge of activity—driven overwhelmingly by deep learning applied to periapical radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography—has reshaped the landscape.
The analysis, which screened 245 articles from major databases, showed that China produced the highest volume of publications. However, the United States held greater citation-weighted influence and centrality in international collaboration networks. The study identified six thematic clusters, with radiographic diagnostics as the dominant focus. Notably, the research detected a nascent but significant shift: the emergence of natural language processing and generative AI applications within the field.
This finding is strategically important. While most current AI applications in endodontics are imaging-centric, the move toward natural language processing suggests a future where AI assists not only in diagnosis but also in clinical decision-making, patient communication, and automated reporting. The study also highlighted methodological limitations, including restricted use of explainable AI and inconsistent adoption of reporting guidelines.
Why it matters:
For global dental professionals and medical AI developers, this research maps where the next wave of clinical automation will hit. China’s leading publication volume signals a concentrated effort to integrate AI into everyday dental practice. As natural language processing enters endodontics, hospitals and clinics worldwide should anticipate tools that not only read scans but also interpret clinical notes, generate treatment plans, and streamline administrative workflows—potentially redefining the standard of care.
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