AAO Advocacy representatives visiting Washington, D.C. recently hand-delivered the recently published AAO position paper on artificial intelligence to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the White House. The outreach was part of continuing political and regulatory outreach.
The AAO delegation also offered the AAO as a resource and thought leader representing the voice of orthodontists as healthcare providers and small business owners, as AI technology evolves and future AI policy considerations emerge.
BACKGROUND: AAO Advocacy on AI Began in 2024
In 2024, the AAO began outreach to lawmakers on the topic of artificial intelligence, drawing on members’ expertise to submit input to a Congressional task force. The AAO document went to the U.S. House of Representatives Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Innovation Caucus, for its Request for Information (RFI), the State of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care.
This year, AAO resources for member use in decision-making about artificial intelligence and AI-based technologies expanded with a major initiative, publication of a position paper, “Responsible Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontic Clinical Practice.”
Beyond meeting the needs of AAO members for accurate information and recommendations to make AI-related clinical and practice management decisions, the position paper is intended to aid outside stakeholders conducting research and, in some cases, making decisions that impact orthodontists and orthodontic patients.
When legislation and proposed policies would impact orthodontics, regulators and elected officials need input from a trusted professional source. The AAO’s AI position paper is intended to be a primary tool to help inform lawmakers and regulatory officials. This dynamic paper is now being introduced as an important tool to support AAO advocacy efforts with policymakers, dental boards, and regulators at the state and federal levels in the United States, and with Canadian policymakers and regulators.
MOVING FORWARD: AAO Experts on Regulatory Decision-Making and Policy-Making Providing Input
Critical analysis of the AI paper from an advocacy standpoint is also in process. The paper is to be generally refined on an ongoing basis as feedback from key stakeholders is incorporated, and as AI-related policy and technological developments continue to evolve.
“We are engaging AAO members with expertise in state dental board decision-making to ensure this position paper reflects the highest level of clinical and regulatory insight,” says AAO Vice President of Advocacy Nathan Mick. “At the same time, our Council on Government Advocacy (COGA) is evaluating the paper through the lens of policymakers’ questions and concerns.
“As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the AAO is committed to serving as a trusted, evidence-based voice for policymakers and regulators at the state and federal levels in the United States, as well as at the federal and provincial levels in Canada,” added Mr. Mick. “We are actively monitoring AI-related policy developments and working to ensure that, when policies impacting orthodontic care are considered, the AAO’s perspective helps inform the path forward.”
