In the current scenario, robotics may very well help boost industry revenue as it enables faster procedures and efficiency which in the long term helps build credibility.

Robotic Dentistry may soon replace human workforce in the field and make them obsolete.

This has been a common misconception in the dental care industry ever since technology began to grow at an exponential pace in this sector. The reality however is that this thought is just that—a misconception and nothing more. Because robotic dentistry as a technological advancement is disruptive in nature it’s only understandable that manufacturers and industry personnel fear possibilities and eventualities is may lead to. The threat felt by most dental professionals is evident and is possibly a significant reason for the slow expansion of robotic or digital dentistry altogether.

Despite this widespread misconception, the truth is that it is impossible for robots to subsume the role of a dentist.

How so?

Robotics offer improved accuracy, predictability, safety, quality and speed however it cannot make an independent diagnosis, recommend a treatment plan or decide the extent and depth of a procedure. Dentistry requires a skilled combination of technique and technology, and both facets need the other to thrive.

In the current scenario, robotics may very well help boost industry revenue as it enables faster procedures and efficiency which in the long term helps build credibility. The dentists who do realize this will be the top players in the years to come. The very few who already are leading the industry have embraced the fact that dental technology is not a threat but a very efficient aid and are deploying it with maximum efficacy.

The rapid adoption of dental lasers makes for substantial evidence. This technology has proven its worth in periodontic, endodontic and prosthodontic treatments. Similarly, intraoral and CAD/CAM Imaging have made the production of crowns faster, more predictable and accurate.

This visible increase in the efficiency, quality and durability of dental procedures can be further attributed to robotic dentistry as well. It has been noted that the recovery speed in prosthetic restoration is impressive, to say the least. High quality aesthetics are something that cannot be ignored and that is exactly what robotic dentistry helps with. By eliminating painful drilling techniques, post-surgery morbidities are reduced and recovery time becomes shorter than usual. One of the most important aspects of this is a visible lack of postoperative pain for the patient.

Robotics is also making dental implant surgeries safer, quicker and more precise. In fact, pairing robotics with digital 3-D mapping using 3-D printers makes work easier by multitudes. Models produced through 3D Printers for implant procedures make for finely detailed end-results. These 3-D Models can be the best surgical guides. These can be used for not just pre-surgical planning assistance but also to provide inter-operative positioning verification. Again, supporting the fact that instead of feeling threatened by technology and dental robotics, dentists need to embrace this growing field with open arms.

Another emerging trend is the use of nanobots. These bacteria sized robots help perform procedures that normally would not be possible by the human hand. For example, they can be used to administer anesthesia. Once in the gum, nanobots establish control over nerve-impulse traffic and shut down painful sensations. Post-treatment, sensations are restored and the patient feels a comfort that cannot be matched by normal operative procedures. Also used to identify bacteria and destroy cancerous lesions, nanobots clearly have the potential to positively impact dental efficiency on a large scale.

Imagine a future when patients can sit through dentist appointments without feeling pain or anxiety. Everything from tooth straightening and vertical repositioning to treating hypersensitivity would be easier. Even publications like the Scientific American and esteemed dental associations have acknowledged the implications of advanced technology in this industry.

Using robotics to assist in dental operations and surgeries is in reality, the next big step. The future looks brighter and more efficient. Embracing it will only mean more profits, better performance and easier operations for dentists across the globe.