https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/robot-dentist-world-first/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories (c) 2024 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Health & Wellbeing Fully-automatic robot dentist performs world's first human procedure By Loz Blain July 31, 2024 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # Fully-automatic robot dentist performs world's first human procedure A world-first human treatment by an autonomous robot dental surgeon A world-first human treatment by an autonomous robot dental surgeon Perceptive View 2 Images 1/2 A world-first human treatment by an autonomous robot dental surgeon Perceptive 2/2 The dental robot appears to need far less space in your mouth than a human Perceptive [icon-mouse-sc] Nightmare fuel? Maybe - but in a historic moment for the dental profession, an AI-controlled autonomous robot has performed an entire procedure on a human patient for the first time, about eight times faster than a human dentist could do it. The system, built by Boston company Perceptive, uses a hand-held 3D volumetric scanner, which builds a detailed 3D model of the mouth, including the teeth, gums and even nerves under the tooth surface, using optical coherence tomography, or OCT. Here's an example: Fast oral scans using OCT This cuts harmful X-Ray radiation out of the process, as OCT uses nothing more than light beams to build its volumetric models, which come out at high resolution, with cavities automatically detected at an accuracy rate around 90%. At this point, the (human) dentist and patient can discuss what needs doing - but once those decisions are made, the robotic dental surgeon takes over. It plans out the operation, then jolly well goes ahead and does it. The machine's first specialty: preparing a tooth for a dental crown. Perceptive claims this is generally a two-hour procedure that dentists will normally split into two visits. The robo-dentist knocks it off in closer to 15 minutes. Here's a time-lapse video of the drilling portion, looking very much like a CNC machine at work: World's first human treatment by a fully automated robotic dentist Remarkably, the company claims the machine can take care of business safely "even in the most movement-heavy conditions," and that dry run testing on moving humans has all been successful. There sure are some brave guinea pig types out there. "We're excited to successfully complete the world's first fully automated robotic dental procedure," says Dr. Chris Ciriello, CEO and Founder of Perceptive - and clearly a man well versed in the art of speaking in the driest, crustiest press release vernacular. "This medical breakthrough enhances precision and efficiency of dental procedures, and democratizes access to better dental care, for improved patient experience and clinical outcomes. We look forward to advancing our system and pioneering scalable, fully automated dental healthcare solutions for patients." "Perceptive's AI-driven robotic system will transform dentistry," adds one Karim Zaklama, DDS, a general dentist and member of Perceptive's clinical advisory board. "The patient experience will be better because of streamlining procedures and enhancing patient comfort. The advanced imaging capabilities, particularly the intraoral scanner, provide unparalleled details which will enable us to diagnose issues earlier with greater accuracy and allow us to connect with patients more effectively. This efficiency allows us to focus more on personalized patient care and reduces chair time, enabling us to treat more patients effectively." The dental robot appears to need far less space in your mouth than a human Perceptive While it's certainly confronting to imagine sitting in a chair letting a robot drill away at your teeth, it does make us wonder whether it's really that much more confronting than the idea of a human doing it. High precision human-controlled robotic surgery is already advancing in leaps and bounds, taking the traditional need for an incredibly steady hand out of the picture - and as we're seeing in the humanoid space, the minute you start teleoperating a robot, you're potentially training it to take over and perform the same job autonomously at some point. So this is probably an idea you'll need to get used to in the coming years. And there are clearly benefits. If you're in and out of the robo-dentist's chair in a quarter of an hour instead of two solid 60-minute marathons, that's a huge improvement. You don't seem to need to keep your mouth stretched quite as wide open, which could make those 15 minutes less fatiguing. And while the system will definitely cost money, it appears to save so much time that dental bills could well come down as a result. The robot's not FDA-approved yet, and Perceptive hasn't placed a timeline on rollout, so it may be some years yet before the public gets access to this kind of treatment. Certainly, the company is looking to extend the machine's capabilities and broaden the range of treatments it's got up its sleeve. One does wonder whether it'll need to be upgraded with a mechanical knee to put on your chest for a stubborn wisdom tooth removal ... Source: Perceptive Tags Health & WellbeingDentalRoboticsSurgical robotAutonomousTeethSurgery * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn 9 comments Loz Blain Loz Blain Loz leads the New Atlas team as Editorial Director, after nearly two decades as one of our most versatile writers. He's also proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer. A graduate in Psychology, former business analyst and touring musician, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music, motorcycles and automotive. Most Viewed * Artist's concept of a ship with the CoFlow system Transport Cylinder sails promise up to 90% fuel consumption cut for cargo ships * Scientists have developed a new reaction that can break down 100% of toxic forever chemicals in a matter of hours Environment 100% of toxic "forever chemicals" break down overnight in new reaction * Trials of an off-the-shelf stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis significantly improved pain and function Health & Wellbeing Knee osteoarthritis injection cuts pain by 58%, regenerates cartilage Load More 9 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. Techutante July 31, 2024 01:54 AM This seems like something you'd have on a space ship or in a rich man's panic bunker. I have to wonder about sanitary conditions. At least it won't try to make small talk with it's hands in your mouth? Rustgecko July 31, 2024 02:11 AM Will there be big robot arms to hold the patient down and stop them struggling? martinwinlow July 31, 2024 03:57 AM @Techutante - 'sanitary conditions ': What, like the fingers of a heavy-smoking, unfit, (probably high), just-had-his-sandwich-lunch, dog-owning, hairy-handed, flu-infected *human* dentist you mean? martinwinlow July 31, 2024 03:59 AM Amazing... and about as likely to happen in a dentists surgery near you in the next 20 years as pigs flying. The dental industry will fight this tooth and nail (sorry!). Cymon Curcumin July 31, 2024 08:12 AM @martinwinlow The pockets of "big dentistry" (as people of a certain bent may call it) are nothing compared to the pockets of insurance companies who would love to sell dental insurance to more people but have to keep the price high enough to cover dental procedures, thus limiting sales. The limiting factor will be the need (real or perceived) for massive levels of human trials. A robot dentist can't be "as good" as a human dentist. One mistake will make the news across the planet the way a simple malpractice case involving a human dentist never would. Brian M July 31, 2024 09:53 AM The classic film Marathon Man scene with the dentist would not be quite the same with this, more James Bond up against a laser CNC cutter! Makes sense, and I'm sure it would be embraced by the dental practice owning companies like MyDentist, time is money. Somehow suspect the result might be both less painful and better. Expect same for lots of other procedures veryken July 31, 2024 10:09 AM The common headrest in lying-down position means the patient can never "back out quickly" in case something goes wrong. So at the very least, escaping will be bloody tearing of cheek tissue. Nice. And oops, sorry doctor I had to twitch and cough... DOC HOLLYWOOD July 31, 2024 10:13 AM Let me know when I'll be able to walk into a local strip mall...and get a implant or a root canal or a crown or a filling or a cleaning in 30 minutes...for a 100 bucks. Smokey_Bear July 31, 2024 03:46 PM Techutante "At least it won't try to make small talk with it's hands in your mouth?" THIS! Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! 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