OBJECTIVE: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in dental research for diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease prediction. However, many dental AI studies lack methodological rigor, transparency, or reproducibility, and no dedicated peer-review guidance exists for this field. METHODS: Editors and reviewers from the ITU/WHO/WIPO AI for Health - Dentistry group participated in a structured survey and group discussions to identify key elements for reviewing AI dental research. A draft of the recommendations was circulated for feedback and consensus. RESULTS: The consensus from editors and reviewers identified four key indicators of high-quality AI dental research: (1) relevance to a real clinical or methodological problem, (2) robust and transparent methodology, (3) reproducibility through data/code availability or functional demos, and (4) adherence to ethical and responsible reporting practices. Common reasons for rejection included lack of novelty, poor methodology, limited external testing, and overstated claims. Four essential checks were proposed to support peer review: the study should address a meaningful clinical question, follow appropriate reporting guidelines (e.g., DENTAL-AI, STARD-AI), clearly describe reproducible methods, and use precise, justified, and clinically relevant wording. CONCLUSION: Editors and reviewers play a critical role in improving the quality of AI research in dentistry. This guidance aims to support more robust peer review and contribute to the development of reliable, clinically relevant, and ethically sound AI applications in dentistry.

Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology LMU Klinikum Munich Germany

Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology LMU Klinikum Munich Germany; Department of Dental Biomaterials Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry Suita Osaka Japan

Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology LMU Klinikum Munich Germany; Institute of Dental Medicine 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health Riga Stradins University Riga Latvia; Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence Headquarters at Riga Technical University Riga Latvia and Institute of Stomatology Riga Stradins University Riga Latvia; Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology LMU Klinikum Munich Germany

Department of Dentistry and Oral Health Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark

Department of Surgery Section Dentistry The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan

Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences Marquette University School of Dentistry Milwaukee WI USA

Division of Periodontology School of Dental Medicine Department of Surgical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Cagliari Italy; College of Dentistry American University of Iraq Baghdad Baghdad Iraq

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