For many people, sitting in the dentist’s chair can be a scary experience.
But now, a visit to the dentist could get a lot scarier as an AI-powered robot completes its first unsupervised procedure on a live 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 carry out the procedure, the patient’s mouth was first mapped with a 3D scanner before an AI autonomously planned and executed the operation.
Dr. Chris Ciriello, CEO and Founder of Perceptive, said, “This medical advancement improves the precision and efficiency of dental procedures and democratizes access to better dental care, improving patient experience and clinical outcomes.”
US company Perspective says its AI-powered robot dentist has carried out its first fully automated procedure on a live human volunteer.
Crown replacements are dental operations that repair weakened and decayed parts of the tooth with artificial material.
Normally, this would require two visits to the dentist, each lasting about an hour, to remove the old crown and place the replacement.
However, Perspective says its AI-powered bot is able to reduce this process to just 15 minutes without sacrificing accuracy or patient safety.
The company has already received $30m (£23m) in funding to date 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 that detects the fluid inside the teeth to look beneath the gum line.
According to Perspective, this technique is 90 percent accurate in detecting cavities and other erosions.
The AI robot (pictured) performed the crown replacement procedure in just 15 minutes, compared to the two hours it takes a human specialist.
Perspective says its robot is capable of drilling with a precision of just 100 microns, about the thickness of a human hair.
An added advantage is that the scanner does not expose the patient to any of the ionizing radiation created by traditional X-ray scanners.
These scans are then handed over to the AI, which autonomously plans how to carry out the procedure.
In the video, Perspective’s robotic dentist can be seen drilling into the decayed tooth of the volunteer patient, whom Perspective did not identify, to make room for the replacement.
By simulating the procedure, the doctor can also fabricate the replacement parts before the piercing begins, eliminating the need for a follow-up appointment.
Karim Zaklama, dentist and member of Perspective’s clinical advisory board, says: ‘Perceptive’s AI-powered robotic system will transform dentistry.
‘Patient experience will be improved by streamlining procedures and improving patient comfort.’
The company uses a portable scanning device to create a 3D model of the inside of the patient’s mouth that the AI uses to autonomously plan the procedure.
In the UK, where many people struggle to access NHS dental services, such significantly improved efficiency may be most welcome.
Recent data suggests that almost half of UK adults will not even bother trying to get an NHS dentist appointment by 2023 and one in four of those who did were turned away.
And with 2,365 patients per dentist in England, reducing routine procedures to just 15 minutes could help reduce backlogs.
While many people might naturally be concerned about letting a robot insert a drill into their mouth, Perspective insists that the procedure is completely safe.
On its website, the company notes that the device is being tested so that dentists can “safely treat teeth even in the most mobile situations.”
Perspective claims the procedure is completely safe and will make visiting the dentist easier and more comfortable (stock image)
Perspective claims its robots can drill with a precision of 100 microns, roughly the width of a human hair.
The company also boasts that its scanning technology will enable dentists to make earlier and more accurate diagnoses of dental problems.
By creating a 3D model of the entire mouth, both dentists and patients will be able to clearly see where decay has occurred.
Mr. Zaklama adds, “Advanced imaging capabilities, particularly the intraoral scanner, provide unparalleled detail that will allow us to diagnose problems earlier with greater accuracy and enable us to connect with patients more effectively.”
However, the robotic dentist, scanner and AI software currently lack FDA approval and are not available for sale in the U.S.