After years of treating dental patients, Dr Padma Gadiyar wanted to find a way to identify oral health problems before they became more difficult to manage. Her response was Smilo.ai in Sandgate, an artificial intelligence platform that has now earned the Brisbane dentist the 2026 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award.
Founded in 2019, Smilo.ai uses smartphone technology to support dental screening and monitoring outside traditional appointments. Dr Gadiyar received the award on Tuesday, 6 October, at The Beetson Hotel in Petrie Terrace, with Queensland Minister for Customer Service and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin presenting the honour.
A Dental Check Without The Dentist’s Chair
Smilo.ai began with a problem Dr Gadiyar had encountered in clinical practice: patients struggling with the cost, accessibility and continuity of dental care, sometimes leaving concerns unaddressed until treatment became more complicated. The platform allows users to capture images of their teeth and gums using a smartphone, with artificial intelligence helping screen for potential problems. It also supports ongoing monitoring, allowing changes in oral health to be recorded between dental visits.
Rather than replacing dentists, the technology is intended to help people recognise concerns earlier and seek appropriate professional advice. Smilo.ai also offers virtual dental consultations in Australia, extending access to dental guidance beyond face-to-face appointments. Dr Gadiyar has since broadened the company’s focus beyond individual patients to aged care, disability support and chronic disease management.
In aged care settings, the technology is designed to help nurses and carers document changes in residents’ oral health, including concerns involving teeth, gums and dentures. Screening information can then assist with monitoring, care planning and referrals when professional dental attention is needed. The longer-term aim is to make oral health monitoring part of wider healthcare services, rather than treating dental concerns separately from other ongoing health needs.
From Treating Patients To Building Technology
The Pearcey Foundation’s judges considered Dr Gadiyar’s transition from clinical dentistry into technology entrepreneurship, alongside Smilo.ai’s clinical validation, regulatory approval, patent protection and commercial progress. Queensland Pearcey Foundation Chair Rebecca McDonald acknowledged the strong field of nominees across different technology sectors. Dr Gadiyar’s clinical background and development of a platform addressing oral healthcare access were among the factors recognised by the panel.
During 2026, Smilo.ai expanded into additional healthcare settings and continued fundraising for further development. Research supporting the company’s work has also received funding through the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. The Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award recognises mid-career technology entrepreneurs who have taken commercial risks and contributed to the state’s technology sector. Dr Gadiyar will represent Queensland at the Pearcey National Awards in Canberra on 2 December 2026.
Published 7-October-2026
