Open Wide for This Robot Arm

The Boston-based startup Perceptive is pioneering the use of robots to perform common dental procedures like fitting crowns faster and more precisely than a human can. The technology relies on a new kind of high-precision dental imaging system akin to ultrasound but using light instead (called optical coherence tomography) to map the surface and interior structure of patients' teeth. The robot is physically attached to the patient's jaw to mirror their head movements, while the dentist stays in control of each procedure for safety. According to the company, procedures that would take hours over multiple visits can now be completed in a single, shorter visit.