Robot-assisted Technology to Train Next Generation of Dentists

New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) has become the third dental school in the United States to acquire and use two surgical robotic devices for dental implant surgeries. This technology—Yomi—will allow pre- and postdoctoral students to learn how robotic technology can augment and assist clinical practice.

Developed by Neocis, a Miami-based healthcare startup, Yomi is indicated for use in adult patients who qualify for dental implants. According to the college, the robot-assisted surgical device is the first, and only, such device to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for dental implant surgery. 

Students will use Yomi to learn how this technology can enhance patient care due to its precision during dental implant surgery. The system uses software to help preoperatively plan the procedure, and provides visual and physical intraoperative guidance throughout the procedure. 

Using three-dimensional scans of the patient’s oral cavity, the dental team creates a virtual plan for implant placement. The robotic system then helps to guide providers along with the treatment plan, making modifications intraoperatively to provide real-time guidance. 

“Robotic technology is truly a game-changer for dental surgery,” notes Robert Glickman, DMD, associate dean for clinical affairs and hospital relations and professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at NYU Dentistry. “Successfully placing dental implants requires careful preoperative planning and a high degree of accuracy and precision to avoid critical anatomical structures and provide the best outcome for the patient.” It is believed this use of robotic technology with assist students and providers in the planning and provision of dental implant therapy.

Read more about “Imaging Technologies in Dental Implantology,” and “Treatment Planning Strategies for Dental Implant Procedures” at Decisions in Dentistry.