Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Oral Oncology: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in oral oncology, enabling earlier detection of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), prognostic modelling, and clinical decision support. This narrative review synthesizes the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of AI in oral oncology and highlights current evidence, regulatory frameworks, and governance practices. METHODS: Literature and regulatory guidance (2018-2025) were reviewed, including WHO, FDA, EU AI Act, ADA guidelines, ISO/IEC standards, and systematic reviews in oral oncology. RESULTS: Key ethical issues include privacy, bias, and interpretability. Legal frameworks such as the EU AI Act and FDA guidance classify most AI medical tools as high-risk and subject them to lifecycle monitoring. Social considerations include equitable access, cultural factors, and trust-building. CONCLUSION: While AI can improve early oral cancer detection and outcomes, its safe and equitable deployment requires transparent governance, regulatory compliance, equity-focused design, and sustained human oversight.