Open wide, and say AI.
An AI-enabled robot has performed the first dental procedure in Colombia, powered by AI imaging software and a robotic arm, setting the stage for a brave new world of dentistry without, well, dentists.
The procedure itself, where the robotic arm drilled into and shaved a patient’s tooth, was fast and simple.
“This medical breakthrough enhances precision and efficiency of dental procedures, and democratizes access to better dental care, for improved patient experience and clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Chris Ciriello, chief executive of Perceptive, a tech company financially backed by Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, the dentist father of Mark Zuckerberg,
As with other industries shifting to AI, the overarching goal is to speed up repetitive, low-skill jobs.
Perceptive’s FDA-approved dental robotics system, which uses 3-D data for diagnostics and treatment planning, is guided by a central objective of making simple procedures faster and more efficient. For example, it is developing a crown replacement treatment that can be performed in 15 minutes rather than require two visits of one hour each under traditional methods.
The first-of-its-kind procedure has sent ripples throughout the medical community, spurring water cooler debates over its impact on professionals in the field and whether patients are willing to sit in a chair and trust a robot.
Dental experts believe the technology will scale to procedures such as crowns and root canal therapy (endodontics) that are less risky. “The combination of imaging and precision should perform far better than what we currently use,” Cindy Roark, a dentist who is chief clinical officer at Sage Dental, said in an email message.
“I think a lot about automation and where it finds itself in a dental office,” Amir Mansouri, co-founder and CEO of 3-D dental-equipment company SprintRay, said in an interview. “It will not be immediate because you need a clinician to diagnose a patient and there is a level of trust.”
Full AI immersion will take a decade, he said, and likely to start with teeth cleaning, which is less evasive. Mansouri noted a shortage of dental hygienists, with tens of thousands of job openings in the U.S. [There are about 200,000 general practitioners in the U.S.]
At the same time, products are making their way to market. Last year, micro 3-D printing company Boston Micro Fabrication introduced UltraThineer, the world’s thinnest cosmetic dental veneer.
“As one of the market leaders, we watch these new, niche entrants with enthusiasm. I am an AI optimist, and being a part of the change that AI fosters in dentistry is gratifying and humbling,” Florian Hillen, a former Harvard Business School and MIT researcher who is the founder and CEO of dental AI company VideaHealth, said in an email message.
“The robotics system has been designed and rigorously tested to ensure that dentists can perform treatments safely, even in conditions where patient movement is prevalent,” said Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, one of a handful of investors who raised $30 million for Perceptive, according to the company.
