An AI-controlled autonomous robot has successfully completed its first full dental procedure on a human patient, performing it approximately eight times faster than a human dentist.

Developed by Perceptive, the robot utilizes a hand-held 3D volumetric scanner that creates detailed models of the mouth using optical coherence tomography (OCT), eliminating the need for harmful X-ray radiation.

The robot accurately detects cavities and, once the treatment plan is set, autonomously carries out the procedure, New Atlas has reported.

The initial task of preparing a tooth for a dental crown, typically a two-hour process split into two visits, is completed by the robot in about 15 minutes.

Written by B.C. Begley