Dentsply Sirona has launched Smart View - Detect, the world's first FDA-cleared AI diagnostic aid designed to identify teeth with periapical radiolucencies in CBCT scans. The tool, which also carries CE marking for European markets, promises a roughly 46% relative increase in detection rates and will be available starting May 12, 2026, for compatible Dentsply Sirona CBCT systems.
As of May 2026, artificial intelligence in dental diagnostics has reached a significant milestone. Dentsply Sirona, one of the largest dental technology manufacturers globally, announced a first-of-its-kind AI-enabled diagnostic aid that could change how dental professionals review cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. For Canadian practices investing in advanced imaging, the implications are worth understanding — even before the product reaches Health Canada clearance.
What Smart View - Detect Actually Does
Periapical radiolucencies (PARLs) — dark areas near the root tips visible on imaging — often indicate infection, abscess, or other endodontic pathology. Identifying every PARL across a full CBCT volume is time-consuming and prone to oversight, particularly in larger fields of view where hundreds of slices require careful examination.
Smart View - Detect uses machine learning to visually highlight specific areas within CBCT scans where potential PARLs may be present. The system acts as a second set of eyes, flagging regions that warrant closer clinical inspection. According to Dentsply Sirona, the tool produced a roughly 46% relative increase in the detection of teeth with periapical radiolucencies during clinical validation.
Pro Tip: Even without AI-assisted detection, standardize your CBCT review workflow with a written checklist covering all anatomical regions. Systematic review protocols reduce missed findings by up to 30%, according to published radiology literature.
Compatibility and Availability
Smart View - Detect is designed to work with both newly installed and existing Dentsply Sirona CBCT systems, including the Orthophos S, Orthophos SL, and Axeos platforms. The feature supports all fields of view from 5×5 to 17×11 and can process both new acquisitions and historical CBCT scans transferred from Sidexis 4 into DS Core.
The tool launches May 12, 2026, in the United States and Europe. It requires a DS Core Standard or Advanced subscription. Canadian availability has not yet been announced, and the product would need to go through Health Canada's medical device clearance process before it can be marketed in Canada.
What This Means for Canadian Practices
For dental professionals in Ontario and across Canada who use Dentsply Sirona CBCT equipment, this development signals what is coming. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) has not yet issued specific guidance on AI-assisted diagnostic tools in dental imaging, but as these products gain traction in the US and EU markets, Canadian regulatory frameworks will inevitably need to address them.
Practices in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area that already use Orthophos or Axeos systems should monitor Health Canada's Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (MDALL) database for future clearance notifications. Understanding the regulatory pathway now will help early adopters integrate the technology smoothly when it becomes available.
The Broader Trend: AI in Dental Imaging Is Accelerating
Smart View - Detect is far from the only AI diagnostic tool entering the dental imaging space. Over the past two years, companies including Pearl, Overjet, and VideaHealth have all secured FDA clearances for AI-powered radiograph analysis tools. What distinguishes Smart View - Detect is its focus on 3D CBCT volumes rather than 2D periapical or panoramic radiographs.
Three-dimensional imaging presents a fundamentally different challenge for AI systems. A single CBCT scan can contain hundreds of axial, coronal, and sagittal slices. Reviewing all of them thoroughly takes time — and fatigue increases the likelihood of missed pathology. AI tools that can pre-screen these volumes and direct the clinician's attention to areas of concern address a genuine workflow bottleneck.
Pro Tip: If your practice is considering a CBCT upgrade in the next 12 to 18 months, factor AI compatibility into your purchase decision. Ask vendors specifically about software subscription models and whether AI features can be added to existing hardware without replacing the unit.
Clinical Workflow Implications
Integrating AI diagnostic aids into clinical workflows raises practical questions that Canadian practices should consider proactively:
- Documentation standards: When AI highlights a potential finding, how should that be recorded in the patient chart? The RCDSO requires that clinical findings be documented accurately, and AI-assisted findings may need clear notation distinguishing human interpretation from machine flagging.
- Patient communication: Dentsply Sirona has emphasized that Smart View - Detect helps patients understand what their dentist is seeing. Visual highlighting on a screen during a case presentation could improve treatment acceptance for endodontic procedures.
- Liability considerations: If an AI tool flags a finding that a clinician subsequently dismisses, or conversely fails to flag a true positive, questions of professional liability arise. The Canadian Dental Protective Association (CDPA) has not yet issued specific guidance on AI-assisted diagnosis, but practitioners should document their clinical reasoning regardless of whether they agree or disagree with an AI suggestion.
- Workflow efficiency: For practices performing high volumes of implant planning, endodontic assessment, or surgical CBCT imaging, AI pre-screening could reduce review time per scan by several minutes — a meaningful efficiency gain over the course of a full clinic day.
Financial Considerations
The subscription-based model through DS Core means practices will face ongoing software costs rather than a one-time purchase. While Dentsply Sirona has not disclosed specific Canadian pricing, US subscription tiers for DS Core range from basic to advanced levels. Practices should evaluate whether the improved detection rates and workflow efficiencies justify the recurring expense, particularly for clinics that perform fewer than 10 CBCT scans per week.
For high-volume imaging practices — including those in multi-location dental service organizations operating across the GTA — the per-scan cost of an AI subscription becomes increasingly favourable as utilization rises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Smart View - Detect available to Canadian dental practices?
Not yet. The product launches May 12, 2026, in the US and Europe. Canadian availability will depend on Health Canada medical device clearance, which has not been announced. Practices using Dentsply Sirona CBCT systems should monitor Health Canada's MDALL database for updates.
Q: Does AI replace the need for a dentist to review CBCT scans?
No. Smart View - Detect is a diagnostic aid, not a replacement for clinical judgment. The AI highlights areas of potential concern within the scan volume, but the treating dentist retains full responsibility for diagnosis and treatment planning. The RCDSO expects practitioners to exercise independent professional judgment in all clinical decisions.
Q: Which CBCT systems are compatible with Smart View - Detect?
The tool works with Dentsply Sirona's Orthophos S, Orthophos SL, and Axeos CBCT platforms. It supports fields of view from 5×5 to 17×11 and requires a DS Core Standard or Advanced subscription. Both new scans and historical scans imported from Sidexis 4 are compatible.
EBIKO Dental will continue monitoring Health Canada clearance developments and AI diagnostic tool availability for the Canadian dental market. Visit ebiko.ca for the latest dental industry updates.