For many people, sitting in the dentist’s chair is already a frightening experience.
But now, a visit to the dentist could get a whole lot scarier, as a robot with artificial intelligence performs its first unsupervised procedure on a living human.
The robot, developed by the American company Perspective, successfully performed a crown replacement in just 15 minutes, eight times faster than a human specialist.
To perform the procedure, the patient’s mouth was first mapped with a 3D scanner, after which an AI autonomously planned and performed the surgery.
Dr. Chris Ciriello, CEO and Founder of Perceptive, said: ‘This medical breakthrough improves the precision and efficiency of dental procedures and democratizes access to better dental care, for a better patient experience and clinical outcomes.’
US company Perspective says its AI-powered robotic dentist has performed its first fully automated procedure on a live human volunteer
Crown replacement is a dental surgery in which weakened and diseased parts of the tooth are repaired with artificial material.
Typically, this requires two visits to the dentist, each lasting about an hour, to remove the old crown and place the replacement crown.
However, Perspective says its AI-based bot can reduce this process to just 15 minutes, without sacrificing accuracy or patient safety.
The company has so far raised $30 million (£23 million) in funding to develop its technology, with investors including Mark Zuckerberg’s father, dentist Dr Edward Zuckerberg.
First, a human assistant creates a 3D model of the patient’s mouth using a handheld scanner, which scans the fluid in the teeth and then looks under the gum line.
According to Perspective, this technique for detecting holes and other erosion is 90 percent accurate.
The AI robot (pictured) performed the crown replacement procedure in just 15 minutes, compared to two hours for a human specialist
Perspective says its robot can drill with an accuracy of just 100 microns – about the thickness of a human hair
An additional advantage is that the scanner does not expose the patient to the ionizing radiation produced by traditional X-ray scans.
These scans are then passed to the AI, which autonomously plans how to perform the procedure.
The video shows Perspective’s robot dentist drilling into the volunteer patient’s rotten tooth to make room for the replacement tooth. Perspective did not identify the patient.
In addition, by simulating the procedure, the clinician can fabricate the replacement parts before drilling begins, eliminating the need for a follow-up appointment.
Karim Zaklama, dentist and member of Perspective’s Clinical Advisory Board, says: ‘Perceptive’s AI-based robotic system will transform dentistry.
‘The patient experience will improve by streamlining procedures and increasing patient comfort.’
The company uses a portable scanning device to create a 3D model of the inside of the patient’s mouth, which the AI uses to autonomously plan the procedure
In the UK, where many people struggle to access NHS dental services, such a significant improvement in efficiency would be very welcome.
Recent data shows that almost half of adults in the UK won’t even bother to book an NHS dentist appointment by 2023. Of those who did, one in four were turned away.
And with 2,365 patients per dentist in England, reducing routine treatments to just 15 minutes could help close the gap.
While many people may find the idea of having a robot stick a drill in their mouth scary, Perspective stresses that the procedure is completely safe.
The company’s website says the device is being tested so dentists can “safely treat teeth in even the most dynamic situations.”
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Perspective claims the procedure is completely safe and will make a visit to the dentist easier and more comfortable (stock image)
Perspective claims its robots can drill with an accuracy of 100 microns, about the width of a human hair.
The company also claims that its scanning technology will enable dentists to diagnose dental problems earlier and more accurately.
By creating a 3D model of the entire mouth, both dentists and patients can clearly see where tooth decay has occurred.
Mr Zaklama added: ‘The advanced imaging capabilities, particularly the intraoral scanner, provide unparalleled detail allowing us to diagnose problems earlier and more accurately and engage with patients more effectively.’
However, the robot dentist, scanner and AI software do not yet have FDA approval and are therefore not for sale in the US.