Which of the following is an example of a classification task in dentistry?

In the context of machine learning and AI applications in dentistry, the classification task involves categorizing data into distinct classes or categories based on certain features or characteristics. The detection of caries fits this definition as it entails identifying whether a tooth has caries (decay) or not, effectively classifying tooth status into categories such as "healthy," "carious," or "potentially carious."

The other options do not align with a classification task as directly as the detection of caries. For instance, segmentation of lesions is more about partitioning an image to highlight the areas of interest and does not classify those areas into discrete categories. Measuring patient satisfaction typically involves subjective assessments and is more quantitative than categorical. Predicting treatment outcomes involves forecasting which treatments may be successful based on various factors, making it more of a regression or prediction task rather than a straightforward classification.