Oral surgeons are now using a robotic guidance system to assist with dental surgery for tooth implantation. The YOMI Robotic Dental System made by Neocis is the first FDA cleared robotic device for dental surgery for dental implants.
The dental robot helps dentists and oral surgeons map out and customize a treatment plan individualized for each patient. The robot help to augment the clinical expertise of skilled implant dentistry teams. The dental robot helps to elimate any guesswork when it comes to the surgery and is able to show exactly the the depth, cutting position and needed angles the procedure needs to achieve the most optimal results. The dental robot acts like a guide and still allows the operator to modify the treatment plan if needed. The dental robot allows for dentits and oral surgeons to operate more quickly and more precisely. Robots have been used in other areas of medicine for decades now but their use for oral surgery is relatively new. The YOMI robotic dental system enables virtual procedure planning, guided instrument placement, augmented anatomical visualization, insights and ergonomics that are just not available with current surgical techniques today.
Patients seem to feel more comfortable with having a dental robot assist, at least according to a dentist in North Texas. They trust their dentist but like having an extra layer of protection. Further it allows dentists and oral sugeons to have more time and attention to provide their patients. The cost of the dental robot is high and reported at $300,000. If patients have insurance coverage for dental implants though the robotic surgery can also be covered.
One advantage of the dental robot is that it can help track patient movement. It also provides audio clues to the surgeon and visual confirmation on a monitor. The dental robot offers a real-time visual guidance and robotic haptic guidance. All of the benefits can help patients have less pain and faster recovery after surgery. Yomi therefore allows for more patient centered care.
It is not clear if the Miama Florida based Neocis has any plans to expand into other types of oral surgery for their robotic system like wisdom teeth planning and extraction. Perhaps one day the use of robots to assist with and perform oral surgery will be much more commonplace then today and benefit both surgeons and patients alike.
- Spectrum, Lupe Zapata, “North Texas dentist uses first-ever FDA-cleared dental robot for tooth implants,” April 27, 2022, https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2022/04/25/north-texas-dentist-uses-dental-robot
- Yomi. Robotic Guidance in Implant Dentistry. https://www.neocis.com/technology/
Technology has come a long way. The learning curve will be steep initially.