A fully-automated robotic dentist performed the world's first human procedure

For the first time, an autonomous robot controlled by artificial intelligence has successfully performed a dental procedure on a human, completing the task 8 times faster than a human dentist could.

Here's What We Know

The system, developed by Boston-based company Perceptive, uses a handheld 3D scanner to create a detailed 3D model of the oral cavity, including teeth, gums and nerves, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This eliminates the need for X-rays, as OCT uses only light rays to create high-resolution volumetric models.

Once the model is created, the dentist and patient discuss the treatment plan and then the robot takes over the procedure. The robot's first speciality is preparing a tooth for a crown, which usually takes about two hours and requires two visits to the dentist. The robot handles this task in 15 minutes.

The company claims that the robot can work safely even in the most demanding environments and all human trials have been successful. However, the robot is not yet approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the timeline for its introduction has not yet been determined.

Source: New Atlas, Perceptive