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A robot dentist just completed its first solo procedure

The autonomous bot replaced two teeth for a woman in China.
The autonomous bot replaced two teeth for a woman in China. The autonomous bot replaced two teeth for a woman in China.

A robotic dentist has completed its first autonomous procedure by fitting two new teeth into a woman’s mouth in China, according to reports.

The South China Morning Post said human staff were present during the operation but played no active role.

Dental report
Dental report
Human staff were present during the procedure (Rui Vieira/PA)

The new teeth were also 3D printed.

The technology has been developed over the last four years by the Stomatological Hospital in Xian, which is linked to a medical university, and the robot institute at Beihang University, Beijing.

The robot has been designed to combine dental expertise with the benefits of technology, including reducing human errors and working in the restricted space of a patient’s mouth.

NHS dental places
NHS dental places
There is a major shortage of dentists in China (Rui Vieira/PA)

Before the operation, dental staff programmed the robot to move into the correct position for the procedure, before programming and then testing the movements, angle and depth needed to complete the surgery.

Data from the test was used to make adjustments before the operation was carried out.

According to the developers, the technology has been created to help address a major shortage of dentists in China.