Designing Artificial Intelligence Decision Support for Periodontal Care in Kazakhstan: A Three-Stakeholder Cross-Sectional Survey of Dentists, Primary Care Physicians and Patients

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) tools for periodontal diagnosis are proliferating, yet little is known about what clinicians and patients in Central Asia expect from such systems. We elicited requirements for an AI-enabled periodontal decision-support system from three stakeholder groups in Kazakhstan and examined which patient-reported risk factors are associated with self-reported signs of periodontal disease. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey (July–September 2026) enrolled 33 dentists, 91 primary health care (PHC) physicians and medical specialists, and 455 patients with periodontal disease. Proportions were reported with Wilson 95% confidence intervals (CI); groups were compared with Fisher’s exact, χ², Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests with effect sizes; multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with self-reported periodontal signs. Results: Dentists prioritised automation of history-taking (81.8%) and visual gingival assessment (72.7%), and named early gingivitis diagnosis as the stage where AI is most needed (69.7%). Only human-controlled autonomy levels were chosen; the most frequently cited barrier was the absence of a legal framework and liability insurance (60.6%), and dentists with >5 years of experience more often demanded mandatory verification or a prohibition of full autonomy (exact p = 0.045; Cramér’s V = 0.54). PHC physicians considered early gingivitis screening their most effective contribution (80.2%) but cited insufficient competence as the main barrier (53.8%). Self-reported periodontal signs were present in 49.0% of patients and were independently associated with high stress (adjusted odds ratio 2.11; 95% CI 1.14–3.89) and a positive family history (1.61; 1.02–2.55); six symptom items did not form a reliable scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.56). Conclusions: Stakeholders in Kazakhstan favour a low-autonomy, clinician-verified AI system focused on early gingivitis detection, interprofessional data sharing and clearly regulated accountability. These requirements provide an evidence base for the design and governance of periodontal AI in emerging health systems.