For the first time, two dental implants were placed without human intervention. A robot, Yomi, took care of the intervention in an automated way.
In China, the dentist is called Yomi. Without doctorate or last name. And for good reason: Yomi is a robot. For the first time, he placed two dental implants in a patient without human assistance. A feat achieved in the city of Xi’an, China, and reported by the South China Morning Post.
The robot in question was developed by an American firm, Neocis Inc. But it is not for nothing that the first tests are carried out within the Middle Empire. According to a recent survey, 400 million Chinese people need at least one dental implant. And the country faces a lingering dentist shortage.
A woman volunteered for this world premiere. Two dental implants were 3D printed and then returned to the robot. This is programmed to tolerate only a minimal margin of error. Which is supposed to limit the mistakes that a human being could have made.
Authorized in the United States
If Yomi reacts to a program made in advance, he is also able to adapt to the patient’s movements. And that is exactly what he did during this intervention. A capacity carefully checked before proceeding to the intervention itself. Fully automated, the American robot implanted the two artificial teeth.
“Yomi is a precision instrument that helps ensure that the implant will go exactly where it was intended,” summarizes Dr. Jeffrey Ganeles, dentist in Florida. Implants are probably just the start. The Chinese also hope to make it a tool for treating dental caries, which is also a real problem in the country.
The United States could also take the plunge, since Yomi has been authorized by the American Food and Drug Authority (FDA) since last March. But it is not yet recognized for fully automated interventions. For now, the robot can be used as a guidance tool.
Few injuries
The total lack of human assistance may be of concern, but Chinese dentists have been cautious. The placement of the implants did not need them to intervene, but they remained close to the robot in order to regain control if necessary.
In addition, a american study carried out in 2013 delivered rather reassuring results in terms of robotic surgery. Of the 10,000 procedures carried out between 2000 and 2013, only 144 resulted in the death of the patient. Or slightly more than 1.4%.
The most common uses – gynecology and urology – are also the safest. In contrast, areas as complex as the head and neck are slightly more at risk of injury.
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