I stand corrected. I have said before that dentists would never be replaced by machines but after seeing the article online (Newsweek August 6, 2024, AI Robot Performs Human Dental Crown in Minutes), I was astounded. A scan is completed at the diagnostic appointment, the crown is Computer Assisted Designed (CAD) and Computer Assisted Manufactured (CAM) prior to the dental appointment. On the next visit the machine prepares the tooth (teeth) precisely to fit the premade crown! Reverse manufacturing! The Newsweek video was shot on July 30 and the company who designed and manufactured the machine is Perspective, out of Boston. It is backed by Edward Zuckerburg, that’s correct, Mark Zuckerburg’s father!
The machine uses something called optical coherence technology (OTC), which allows it to accurately prepare teeth in an environment where some movement is “prevalent”, to quote the article. The OTC is also capable of detecting enamel and dentinal caries which is important in assuring a clean and decay free preparation. There is already an AI program on the market that looks at digital x-rays and predicts where decay is and where early cavities are likely. It also looks around roots for irregularities that may indicate pathology. It’s very empirical and rules out any clinical bias but certainly gives the clinician teeth to keep a watch on.
This technology is in its infancy, but it is moving forward and may be available in the not-too-distant future. I see several uses for such a machine if it ever becomes available. Examples would be severe wear cases, multiple unit esthetic cases or anytime multiple teeth are prepared. The case can be designed on a computer and fabricated in such a way that the final restorations could be provided in one relatively easy visit vs several prep appointments with temporaries and a seating visit. It could also be useful in quadrant dentistry of “fillings.” Rather than the dentist removing the decayed tooth structure then placing multiple restorations one at a time, the pre-made “indirect restorations” would be immediately available for seating after preparation! Our current technology is capable of “quadrant dentistry” but scanning, designing and milling all result in dead time in the chair for the patient. The ability of the machine to prep the tooth to fit the restoration is truly a game changer!
I don’t know what the dentist and auxiliary roles will be in this new world, maybe I’ll be relegated to administering anesthesia, verifying decay removal, and seating and adjusting the final restorations or just being here to make it legal. Perhaps I’ll get to assist in the design phase. It doesn’t sound like I’ll be completely put out to pasture yet so to borrow a line from The Terminator, “I’ll be back!”
Dr. C. Mark Fort