AI-powered dental imaging revolutionizes patient understanding: Overjet, a Boston-based startup, is launching Iris, an innovative imaging system that transforms dental X-rays into clear, annotated pictures to improve communication between dentists and patients.
- Overjet’s CEO, Wardah Inam, highlights that patients often opt out of recommended dental procedures due to a lack of understanding, with more than half of patients declining treatment.
- The Iris system aims to address this issue by utilizing Overjet’s AI platform, which has been trained on millions of dental images to enhance X-rays and add visual elements that clearly highlight potential dental health problems.
Advanced AI capabilities and FDA clearances: Overjet’s journey from its inception in 2018 to its current position as a leader in dental AI technology has been marked by significant milestones and regulatory approvals.
- The company has raised over $134 million in investment and is valued at $550 million, with its products being used by thousands of dentists across the United States.
- Overjet has received multiple FDA clearances since 2021, including software for bone measurements to assess gum disease, cavity detection and outlining in X-rays, hardened plaque detection, and identification of root canal infection signs.
- Recent clearances in 2024 include cavity detection software for children, an automated dental charting system, and AI-enhanced dental imaging software.
The Iris system: Combining AI capabilities for comprehensive dental care: Iris integrates all of Overjet’s AI technologies to provide a holistic approach to dental diagnosis and treatment planning.
- The system uses both X-rays and photos to identify dental issues, generating visualizations that assist dentists in making accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
- Iris’s enhanced images make it easier for patients to understand their dental conditions, potentially increasing the likelihood of them proceeding with recommended treatments.
- The software is already being rolled out nationally, with a waitlist forming based on positive feedback from beta-testing clinics.
Future developments and industry impact: Overjet is not resting on its laurels and has plans to further expand its AI capabilities in the dental field.
- The company is working on adding 3D-imaging capabilities to its AI platform, which would enable the diagnosis of a broader range of dental problems and provide additional support for doctors and patients.
- Inam believes that dental AI has become essential in the industry, helping dentists work more effectively and ensuring patients receive optimal care.
Analyzing the broader implications: While Overjet’s technology promises to improve dental care and patient understanding, it also raises questions about the future of dentistry and healthcare in general.
- The integration of AI in dental practices may lead to more standardized diagnoses and treatment plans, potentially reducing human error but also raising concerns about over-reliance on technology.
- As patients become more informed through AI-enhanced imaging, it could lead to increased engagement in their dental health, but may also result in challenges to dentists’ authority or increased demand for unnecessary procedures.
- The success of AI in dentistry could pave the way for similar applications in other medical fields, potentially transforming the way healthcare is delivered and understood by patients across various specialties.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...