A dental operation that takes a doctor an hour, or sometimes two, can be performed by a robot in just 15 minutes. This was demonstrated for the first time in the world in an experiment on a volunteer conducted by American specialists. On the one hand, this success does not seem to be the most resounding. After all, CNC machines have long since learned to perform complex operations requiring maximum precision. But they deal with stationary objects, and the robot dentist works with a “moving” patient. The task is much more difficult.
Artificial intelligence, which manages all operations, helps to cope with this. The system uses a portable 3D scanner that creates a detailed 3D model of the oral cavity and, using optical coherence tomography, even of the tooth’s nerves. The most precise precision technology is used to move all the mechanics. According to the authors, the robot can operate safely “even in the most unstable conditions” and has been successfully tested with moving people.
By the way
In 2017, in China, a robot installed two 3D-printed teeth in a woman in less than an hour. The operating error is minimal: 0.2 – 0.3 millimeters. This is in accordance with the standard used in this type of operation. The robot simply followed a series of pre-programmed commands and performed the specified procedures in order under the supervision of specialists. However, there was still a certain degree of autonomy: the robot adapted to the patient’s movements and made adjustments to the trajectory of the instrument.
