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An AI robot has performed a fully automated dental procedure on a human in what is considered to be a world-first.
The robot completed the dental crown procedure in just 15 minutes, just a fraction of the usual two-and-a-half-hour timescale for the work.
Perceptive is a company that fuses dentistry, AI, imaging, and robotics, which confirmed the completion of the inaugural robot-led procedure on July 30. The Boston-based organization is backed by Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, father of Facebook supremo, Mark.
With $30 million in funding received to date, other headline investors include PDS Health, Innospark Ventures, KdT Ventures, Primavera Capital, Plaisance Capital, and Y Combinator.
Dr. Chris Ciriello, founder and chief executive of Perceptive stated: “This medical breakthrough enhances precision and efficiency of dental procedures.”
A patient’s mouth and teeth are assessed with a 3D scan, to get a full picture above and below the gum line. These images from the initial examination are used to simulate the cut and for the crown, make the restoration before cutting the tooth.
When the procedure takes place, the actual cut is made and then the crown is secured in position. Ciriello remarked on how accuracy was a key driver to deliver the required precision as well as the timing.
Perceptive Confident AI Robot will Transform Dentistry
A trip to the dentist is often a fraught experience and something that many people do not look forward to, so spare a thought for the volunteer in the chair at the mercy of the robot undertaking the work.
However, Perceptive has stated the AI device is safe and that the advances will transform dentistry as the robot system has been “designed and rigorously tested to ensure that dentists can perform treatments safely, even in conditions where patient movement is prevalent.”
Overall, the project is progressing well but is still at the prototype stage, awaiting clearance from the American regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
