2024-08-23 11:00:04
The implementation of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical field has reached a new milestone with the completion of the first fully automated dental procedure on a human by a robot. This feat, carried out by the American company Perceptive, paves the way for significant advances in the precision and efficiency of dental care.
Perceptive has designed a robotic system that combines AI and advanced imaging technologies, including optical coherence tomography (OCT). This technology allows you to create a detailed three-dimensional model of the bouche of patientincluding subgingival and internal structures of the teeth. Using OCT, the robot Perceptive’s technology can detect cavities with 90% accuracy, far surpassing the 45% accuracy of traditional 2D X-rays. In addition, the technology is distinguished by the absence of ionizing radiation, commonly used in conventional dental scanners. Finally, the technology is impressively effective at adapting to sudden patient movement. In this world first, the robot performed a crown placement in just 15 minutes, eight times faster than a human dentist, who usually requires two hours spread over two sessions. This speed is made possible by the automation of each step of the process, from the diagnostic until the procedure is performed. Chris Ciriello, CEO of Perceptive, emphasizes that this innovation not only improves the quality of care, but also democratizes access to cutting-edge dental treatments.
One of Perceptive’s goals is to address the global shortage of dentists. In the United States, for example, there is one dentist for every 2,620 people, a ratio that is insufficient to meet the growing need for dental care. Using robots could improve access to care by reducing reliance on human practitioners.
However, the introduction of autonomous robots in the dental field raises questions. While the precision and effectiveness of the interventions are undeniable, the question of patient acceptability remains open. The Perceptive company does not yet have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing its system, which means that its large-scale deployment will not happen immediately.
This advancement is part of the ongoing progress in robotic surgery. It remains to be seen how the public and the medical community will welcome this increasingly autonomous technology.
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