The University of Rochester has received approximately 20.82 million RMB in funding to advance the development of an AI-powered oral disease screening platform.

Image source: University of Rochester official website

DentalGoodNews｜On August 31, 2026 (Eastern Daylight Time, EDT), the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) at the University of Rochester announced a five-year, $3.1 million (approximately RMB 20.82 million) grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered oral health platform called SMARTeeth++. The project aims to transform oral care from a clinic-dependent treatment model into a prevention-oriented, cost-effective system that can function beyond traditional clinical settings.

According to the research team, SMARTeeth++ technology integrates portable oral imaging, AI analysis, and patient health information. The team will use the platform to analyze intraoral images, measuring and identifying signs of dental caries and early periodontal disease. The project supports NIDCR's priority of accelerating the use of reliable, reproducible diagnostic tools.

Co-principal investigator Jiebo Luo, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Rochester, noted that the team will also develop predictive models. These models will combine AI-derived information from intraoral images with other patient health data to help identify which patients are most likely to experience disease progression, enabling more timely intervention. EIOH Professor Jin Xiao stated that this shift will enable a leap from reactive treatment of oral diseases to preventive intervention.

SMARTeeth++ will also play a role at the community health level. Co-principal investigator Tong Tong Wu, Professor of Biostatistics and Computational Biology at the University of Rochester, stated that the system will develop models to predict community-level oral disease progression, identify population-based disease risk markers, and provide scientific evidence for the resource allocation needed for effective prevention.

The previous SMARTeeth research project has already validated feasibility in real-world clinical settings. In a screening study conducted at obstetrical outpatient clinics, the system identified early-stage dental caries in 71.7% of participants, highlighting the potential of integrating oral screening into existing patient care pathways.

SMARTeeth++ will develop two complementary applications: one is a mobile platform for individual use, enabling personal engagement in oral health screening; the other is a clinical management platform for dental hygienists and other trained healthcare personnel to manage patient populations. Additionally, the portable imaging system being designed will allow non-dental professionals to capture images in settings such as community health programs, thereby extending the reach of dental expertise without replacing dentists.

EIOH Director Eli Eliav stated that this project will help Eastman leverage limited dental resources through more effective disease prevention and improve access to oral care. The research is supported by a multidisciplinary team from family medicine, dentistry, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).