The healthcare industry views technology as a powerful way to improve the quality of care for patients. Innovations in the production and delivery of medical treatments may transform patients’ and doctors’ experiences during treatment and recovery for the better. Dentistry is no exception.
Implant dentistry is an essential treatment performed by general dentists and other dental specialists to replace missing teeth. Rather than manufacturing a denture, or man-made replacement teeth for the patient, the dentist can place implants and attach functional teeth or crowns on top. This results in patients enjoying more natural and better-functioning smiles.
This model illustrates how a dental implant is placed to allow functional teeth to be attached.
Image Source: Andriy Onufriyenko
As a result of the increased popularity of implant placement procedures, new technology has further evolved the field of restorative dentistry. Neocis, a Miami-based company, has introduced the first and only robot-assisted dental surgery system with FDA clearance in the United States: the Yomi Robot. The Yomi system functions by allowing the dentist to establish the exact angle and location for implant placement during implant surgery with a drill tip. With a precise calibration mechanism, the Yomi robot has the ability to accurately guide and assist the doctor with implant placement.
As the Yomi robot is already being used by multiple dentists nationwide, the consensus on the impact of the robot has been a resounding success. Through its accurate mechanism to measure the angle and location of the implant placement, the Yomi robot limits the possible human error by the dentist. Furthermore, this technology minimizes the time needed for implant surgery as a CT scan and virtual treatment planning are unnecessary for the functioning of the Yomi Robot. Some doctors recall that the average procedure time for implant procedures was cut down from two hours to only 15 minutes with the assistance of the Yomi robot. This allowed doctors to place multiple implants in just one visit and limit the patient’s time in the chair.
Ultimately, the Yomi Robot’s ability to guide treatment options and improve clinical outcomes using a precision calibration mechanism has the power to completely reshape the future of implant procedures and pave the way for more robotic innovations in dentistry.
Featured Image: Alejandro
