A historic moment in dentistry has been announced, with the first ever fully automated dental procedure on a human having been completed. The announcement was made by American artificial intelligence company Perceptive. The procedure involved a robotic arm finishing a crown placement procedure.
In the first ever event of its kind – an American-based artificial intelligence (AI) company have completed the first fully automated dental procedure on a human [1].
The procedure was carried out by a company called Perceptive. This incredible event underlines the potential power of AI in dentistry.
It will be interesting to see how far AI can assist in dental procedures in the future. Hopefully, AI will continue to positively impact dentistry.
Announcement
US company Perceptive specialize in AI-driven 3D imaging software. The particular software used in this case involved a robotic arm that is designed to perform a dental procedure [1].
The company announced the completion of the first ever fully automated dental procedure on a human through a press release on Tuesday 30th July 2024 [1].
Founder and CEO of Perceptive – Dr. Chris Ciriello – said that “this medical breakthrough enhances the precision and efficiency of dental procedures, and democratizes access to better dental care, for improved patient experience and clinical outcomes” [1].
Perceptive have raised approximately $30 million in funding. Funders include various venture capitalists. For example, Dr. Edward Zuckerberg – father of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – is among those to have funded the company [1].
Moreover, Perceptive have partnered with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the American Dental Association’s Forsyth Institute [1]. Therefore, they are working with well-established organizations.
How did the procedure happen?
As mentioned earlier, the procedure involved a robotic arm that has been specifically designed to perform dental procedures.
The procedure brought together advanced imaging techniques, AI, and robotics – creating a powerful combination!
The specific procedure that took place was finishing a crown placement [1]. A crown is typically used in cases to secure a tooth that has had a large filling, or has been damaged.
The first step was for an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan of the patient’s tooth and mouth taking place [1].
When used for OCT, Perceptive’s intraoral scanner has demonstrated over 90% accuracy for identifying caries [2]. Moreover, it does not involve radiation, unlike an X-ray. Therefore, this carries several benefits.
The OCT was done through Perceptive’s intraoral scanner. This scanner is very advanced, and is capable of capturing 3D images beneath the gum line, through fluids, and importantly – under the surface of the tooth [1]. Overall, the capabilities of this imagery is remarkable.
This advanced imagery allows the system to pinpoint problematic signs, and know exactly which areas need to be treated [1]. Additionally, this clear imagery was also shown to the patient, who was able to understand why treatment was needed.
Once the area of treatment has been identified, the robotic arm takes over, and was able to finish the placement of the crown. No human action was needed, with the robotic arm being able to complete the procedure.
Future advancements
There is understandably a lot of excitement around this announcement. Moreover, AI is likely to have a key role in the shaping of dentistry in the future.
One such example of how Perceptive’s system could help in the future is through assisting in diagnosis and treatment planning. The system uses 3D volumetric data to assist with this [1].
Removing human error and manual labor could also save time and money for the dental industry. Furthermore, higher quality results are likelier.
Going forward, the aim is for the system to complete tasks like crown placements in just 15 minutes [1]. Therefore, this would represent a marked improvement for crown placements in particular – which normally requires two office visits, each of which lasts at least an hour.
Perceptive have stated that their system is being rigorously tested to ensure safety [2]. This is positive both for dentists and their patients.
AI in dentistry
AI certainly has the potential to advance dentistry. Yielding this potential to benefit the field is important – and can result in improved treatment options and outcomes for patients.
Improving treatment outcomes and patient experiences are two key considerations for any dental clinic. Having advanced technology can definitely assist with this.
But rather than replacing humans, AI is best used when assisting dentists. AI can provide systems and technology that can complement the work of dentists, and aid them in producing excellent treatment.
Thinking points…
1) The procedure that was featured in this research involved a crown. Dental crowns are very effective at protecting damaged teeth, and can improve appearance and restore confidence. Here at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental, we offer free dental crown consultations! If you are interested in hearing more about this treatment please see our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/. We would love to see you soon!
2) The aim is for none of us to ever need dental treatment. Therefore, it is important to look after our oral health! One of the best ways of ensuring your oral health remains strong is to attend regular check-ups. Check-ups provide a dentist with the chance to check the health of your teeth and gums, and suggest treatment if needed. We recommend that you book an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Oral Health. (2024). US-Based AI Company Completes World’s First Fully Automated Dental Procedure on a Human. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/oral-health/us-based-ai-company-says-it-completes-worlds-first-fully-automated-dental-procedure-1003980346/. Last accessed: 1st August 2024.
[2] Perceptive. (2024). Homepage. Available: https://www.perceptive.io/. Last accessed: 1st August 2024.
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