Globally, dental data standardization follows a dual model: HL7 FHIR for the data exchange format and SNOMED CT for clinical content, enabling true interoperability.
In contrast, Japan developed a unique domestic code, born from disaster response needs, and is now integrating it with FHIR. While this is a practical approach, Japan’s significant challenge is the limited adoption of the comprehensive SNOMED CT terminology.
This creates a gap, potentially limiting the detail of shared clinical data compared to the global standard, which impacts advanced analytics and cross-border research.
To address Japan’s terminology gap, our PADIN initiative is developing a new, open-source dental ontology.
It is architected to be native to HL7 FHIR, ensuring seamless data exchange. Crucially, its semantically rich and computable structure is designed to make the data directly usable for AI and machine learning development without complex pre-processing.
PADIN aims to provide a robust knowledge foundation that bridges local needs and global standards, accelerating the creation of advanced AI-driven diagnostic tools and data-driven insights in dentistry.