Call it dental h-AI-genics.
A Boston-based tech company, backed by Mark Zuckerberg’s dentist father, has successfully managed the world’s first all-robotic dental procedure.
Perceptive, a business that harnesses artificially intelligent imaging software paired with a robotic arm, has taken a big bite out of future medical technology.
The initial treatment — which took place in Barranquilla, Colombia — shows the bot independently drilling into and shaving down a person’s tooth, a process called “cutting,” Stat News reported.
“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 CEO Dr. Chris Ciriello.
The ultimate goal is to use the automated machines for crown placements and similar procedures in “just 15 minutes,” the company announced.
The technology works by scanning images beneath a patient’s gumline and then using AI for analysis before the robotic arms are put into action.
Perceptive’s AI robotics system uses 3D data for diagnostics and treatment planning, “enabling early and highly accurate diagnoses,” according to the press release.
“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, the Facebook founder’s father who made a name for himself in the field.
He was one of a handful who raised $30 million for Perceptive, according to the company.
German Galluicci, who chairs Restorative Dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, also bragged about the numbers behind the new, high-tech approach — a 90% accuracy rate compared to conventional X-rays of 40%.
“This ensures safer and more precise diagnoses, enhancing patient care and safety,” Galluicci asserted.
