Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies in contemporary healthcare, revolutionizing diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, and personalized treatment planning. Within Oral Medicine and Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR), AI has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the detection, characterization, and management of oral diseases. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from recent literature focusing on the integration of AI into oral healthcare and explores its impact on diagnostic imaging, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), oral cancer, salivary diagnostics, temporomandibular disorders, and digital dentistry.

Recent advancements in machine learning, deep learning, convolutional neural networks, computer vision, and predictive analytics have enabled the development of intelligent systems capable of analyzing complex clinical and radiographic datasets with remarkable precision. AI-assisted technologies have demonstrated promising results in detecting dental caries, periodontal bone loss, periapical lesions, maxillofacial pathologies, and oral malignancies while simultaneously supporting treatment planning and prognostic assessment. Furthermore, the integration of AI with digital imaging modalities such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intraoral scanning, and digital pathology has significantly enhanced diagnostic efficiency and workflow optimization. Beyond diagnosis, AI facilitates predictive modeling and precision medicine by integrating clinical findings, radiological information, histopathological data, and molecular biomarkers. Emerging technologies including radiomics, salivary biosensors, lab-on-chip diagnostics, wearable monitoring devices, and digital twins are expected to further transform oral healthcare. However, challenges related to data quality, algorithmic bias, explainability, privacy concerns, regulatory frameworks, and clinician acceptance remain important barriers to widespread implementation.

AI should be viewed as a complementary clinical decision-support tool rather than a replacement for professional expertise. The future of Oral Medicine and Oral Radiology lies in the convergence of intelligent technologies, precision diagnostics, and personalized therapeutic strategies that enable earlier disease detection, improved prognostication, and optimized patient-centered care.