Fully-automatic robot dentist performs first human procedure
A fully-automatic robot dentist has successfully performed a dental procedure, enhancing precision and efficiency in dental care. Developed by Perceptive, it uses advanced imaging technology and aims for broader applications.
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A fully-automatic robot dentist has performed the world's first human dental procedure, marking a significant advancement in dental technology. Developed by Boston-based company Perceptive, the robot utilizes a hand-held 3D volumetric scanner that employs optical coherence tomography (OCT) to create detailed 3D models of the mouth without the use of harmful X-ray radiation. This technology allows for high-resolution imaging and accurate cavity detection. The robot's initial procedure involved preparing a tooth for a dental crown, which typically takes about two hours for a human dentist but was completed by the robot in approximately 15 minutes.
The CEO of Perceptive, Dr. Chris Ciriello, emphasized that this breakthrough enhances the precision and efficiency of dental care, potentially improving patient experiences and clinical outcomes. The robot is designed to operate safely even in challenging conditions, and while it is not yet FDA-approved, the company aims to expand its capabilities for a broader range of dental treatments. Experts believe that the introduction of robotic systems in dentistry could streamline procedures, reduce patient chair time, and ultimately lower dental costs. However, the timeline for public access to this technology remains uncertain as further testing and approvals are needed.
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- Many express concerns about the reliability and accuracy of robotic dental procedures, particularly with a 90% detection rate for cavities.
- Commenters highlight the importance of human empathy and comfort in dental care, fearing that removing human dentists may increase patient anxiety.
- Some discuss the potential for robots to improve efficiency in dental procedures, suggesting significant time savings.
- There are references to previous robotic dental surgeries, indicating that this technology is not entirely new.
- Several commenters question the role of AI in the procedure, suggesting it may be more about automation than advanced intelligence.
40 commentshttps://time.com/4952886/china-world-first-dental-surgery-ro...
I've worked on automatic brain surgery robots, which really needs to be automatic. because 3d, tricky, and the doctor outside sees much less than the tiny sensors inside. but you can interfere and even invite remote specialists on remote duty to observe or handle the pedals.
But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over).
But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot?
People already have a ton of anxiety about going to the dentist. Removing humans will make that worse.
I realize this is early, but still. I feel like we skipped some things.
Already ML algos are more accurate at diagnosing melanomas from an image than dermatologists - but we will never get that tech because doctors are fiercely protective of their salaries and have captured the arm of the state to help them do so.
From what I noticed, dentists use fingers 4 and 5 to track the movement of the head or jaw. I saw no such tracking in this robot, with the article simply making a handwavy "trust AI" argument.
In general, I think if robots are to overdo humans, they should do that with improved sensors and actuators, not just "enough AI".
You can say that again.
Otherwise very impressive.
In addition, there's some things a human dentist does that I doubt this does - early detection of oral or skin cancer on the face being one of them. If you have the same dentist you'd be amazed at what they remember about your face and what's different from last time.
General vibe is that even if it can technically do a drill 'n' fill, it has a long way to go before it can substitute for a trained medical professional.
* Edit: I'm actually going to go further and say that calling an X-ray "harmful" should constitute disinformation and therefore wariness towards the attitude or motive of the author, since it's patently not true. The fraction they use at the dentist's isn't going to hurt anyone. The comparison point I've heard (and can't personally verify) is 6 dental X-rays is equivalent to 1 trans-Atlantic flight; alternatively 1 x-ray to a weekend in Cornwall.
This seems unrelated to the fact that a robot is performing the procedure. Is there anything that prevents human dentists from using OCT instead too?
Also, I guess X-Ray usually isn't part of the process in a procedure like this - but IANAD.
A normal cavity filling can take 20/30 minutes. Imagine if that could be cut down to 1 minute with a perfect filling at the end? Even if we are talking about the dentist messing up the pain killing application it'll all be over pretty damn fast.
For each step don't forget to collect the cash.
There I saved you 200k worth of training.
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