Introduction:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied in dentistry – from radiological diagnostics and orthodontics to prosthesis design and practice management. AI’s precision, speed, and potential for automating routine tasks position it as a promising tool to support clinicians, although it simultaneously raises doubts regarding acceptance and trust among both dentists and patients.

Material and methods:
In May 2025, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted via Google Forms with 101 respondents: 25 dentists (24.75%) and 76 patients (75.25%). The questionnaire was comprised of both closed-ended and multiple-selection questions addressing AI awareness, trust levels in AI-supported diagnoses and treatment plans (rated on a 1–5 scale), therapeutic preferences, perceived benefits, and concerns regarding AI in dentistry.

Results:
The dental practitioners demonstrated higher trust in AI-supported diagnoses than patients, with mean trust scores of 2.92 versus 2.42, respectively. Trust levels increased significantly along with self-reported knowledge of AI, reaching mean values of 3.20 for “high” and 4.00 for “very high” familiarity. In a hypothetical scenario with equal error rates, 79.21% of respondents would favor a dentist supported by AI, 18.81% preferred human-only care, and only 1.98% would trust AI alone.

Conclusions:
AI in dentistry offers tangible diagnostic and organizational advantages; however, the principal barriers to its implementation are insufficient trust and limited user knowledge. One of the greatest challenges in modern public health is educating both patients and professionals about the capabilities and limitations of AI, a prerequisite for increasing acceptance and fully harnessing AI’s potential in clinical practice.