Two local dental service companies are partnering to improve online diagnoses of dental problems in patients. West Hollywood-based Pearl Inc., which has a software platform to help dentists interpret X-rays, announced earlier this month that it signed a partnership with Westlake-based teledentristry company Dentulu Inc. to have Dentulu’s teledentists use the software program to diagnose patients.
Of course, not everything can be done online: the patient must still go to their dental office to get their teeth cleaned, have dental procedures performed and X-rays taken.
But with this partnership, patients can have dental exams done in the comfort of their homes.
Dentulu operates a network of roughly 2,000 dental practices. The company has also developed a software-operated camera called the “MouthCam” that allows patients to take photos of their own mouths.
The partnership with Pearl allows Dentulu’s teledentists to also view and interpret patient X-rays – and do so with increased precision.
Pearl has developed an artificial intelligence platform that helps dentists interpret X-rays to better diagnose problems such as tooth decay. The platform uses advanced processors to provide enhanced images and the exact locations within the mouth of dental problems.
Last year, Pearl’s AI platform became the first to receive authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to read both bitewing and whole-tooth X-rays in patients as young as 12 years old. Until now, Pearl’s AI technology had been restricted to the dental office. But this partnership allows Pearl’s technology to be used in an online setting.
“Our partnership with Dentulu represents an important step forward for dental care in the digital era, because together we are realizing that democratizing potential by bringing the benefits of AI beyond the dental office to any patient with an internet connection,” Ophir Tanz, chief executive of Pearl, said in the announcement.
For Dentulu, bringing on board Pearl’s technology allows its teledentists to provide a broader range of services to patients.
“Dentulu’s mission to provide transparent, innovative, and comprehensive care to our patients aligns with Pearl’s ongoing advancements and contributions within the dental industry,” Arash Hakhamian, Dentulu’s chief executive, said in a statement.
Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
