A groundbreaking milestone in dental care has been achieved by Perceptive, a Boston-based startup, which successfully completed the world’s first fully automated dental procedure on a human using its advanced robotic dentistry technology. This innovative system, approved by the FDA, leverages AI-driven 3D imaging software to guide a robotic arm in performing precise dental procedures.
The AI-powered system can efficiently perform restorative dental work, such as replacing crowns, in just 15 minutes—significantly faster than the typical two office visits required. In addition to restorative work, the technology excels in identifying potential dental issues with remarkable accuracy, enhancing early diagnosis and treatment planning.
Chris Ciriello, Perceptive’s founder and CEO, expressed his excitement about this medical breakthrough, emphasizing its potential to enhance the precision and efficiency of dental procedures, ultimately democratizing access to superior dental care. "We’re excited to successfully complete the world's first fully automated robotic dental procedure," said Ciriello. "This medical breakthrough enhances precision and efficiency of dental procedures, and democratizes access to better dental care, for improved patient experience and clinical outcomes."
The system utilizes 3D volumetric data to meticulously plan diagnostics and procedures. An optical coherence technology (OCT) scan of the patient’s tooth or mouth is conducted using a handheld intraoral scanner, which captures detailed 3D images, including beneath the gum line. This comprehensive imaging provides valuable insights into the overall health of the patient’s mouth.
Patients benefit from the scanner’s imaging capabilities as it allows them to visually understand their dental health and the necessity of specific treatments. The captured image data is analyzed by sophisticated AI algorithms to plan treatments, which are then executed by a robotic arm equipped with dental instruments, enabling fully automated dental procedures.
Perceptive's system boasts over 90% accuracy in detecting caries without the use of ionizing radiation, which is a significant improvement over the approximately 40% accuracy of traditional 2D X-rays. "Perceptive’s technology achieves over a 90% accuracy rate for detecting caries without the ionizing radiation associated with traditional X-rays and CBCT scanners — a significant improvement over the approximately 40% accuracy of 2D X-rays," stated German Gallucci, chair of restorative dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. "This ensures safer and more precise diagnoses, enhancing patient care and safety."
The company has secured $30 million in funding from notable investors including Y Combinator, PDS Health, and Ed Zuckerberg, a renowned dentist and the father of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Ed Zuckerberg highlighted the system’s design and rigorous testing to ensure safe operation even under conditions where patient movement is prevalent. "The robotics system has been designed and rigorously tested to ensure that dentists can perform treatments safely, even in conditions where patient movement is prevalent," he said. "This commitment to safety is core to Perceptive's dedication to providing reliable and effective dental care solutions using state-of-the-art technology."
Perceptive’s innovative approach promises to revolutionize the dental industry by enabling dentists to diagnose and treat more patients efficiently while reducing manual labor and minimizing human error, thus enhancing the overall quality of dental care.
