Yomi: dental robotics platform for tooth implants

The first dentists in our world were considered almost like wizards, who used strange tools to "drive out" pain and other unpleasant sensations from the mouth. However, in the future, all dental operations may begin to be performed by robots. 

Founded in 2009, Miami-based startup Neocis has raised more than $120 million in funding from investors, including Dr. Fred Moll, founder of robotic surgery giant Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). When a person like him invests in a startup, it can be assumed that the startup will succeed. 

The founders of Neocis were among the main engineers who developed the Mako Surgical robotic system for orthopedic surgery, which Stryker (SYK) acquired for almost $1.65 billion. Now they have created a platform for dental surgery that helps dentists plan tooth implant procedures using a three-dimensional image of the patient. 

Yomi: dental robotics platform

The word "robot" often obscures the value proposition, which concerns both software and hardware. Yomi provides a complete workflow that starts with preoperative planning, visualizing the patient's anatomical features (teeth, bones, sinuses). Based on the imaging data, the system displays the entire planned procedure and transfers the data to the robotic arm. 

During surgery, Yomi uses haptic feedback to provide physical cues that guide the dental surgeon's hand to the precise angle and location, preventing unintended deviation from the plan.

If the patient moves, Yomi tracks their movements and follows them. When the drill reaches the planned depth, the platform signals the dentist that it is time to stop. 

Traditionally, dentists used various guides for operations or even worked on their own, so they really had to "pull back" the gums to see what they were doing. With Yomi, operations are much simpler for both the surgeon and the patient. 

In 2016, Neocis completed a successful clinical study and received market clearance. Since then, the Yomi Robotics system has been used to install more than 2,700 dental implants in 47 US cities, where it remains the first and most popular commercially available robotic device for dental surgery. 

Yomi helps complete a full-arch procedure in 90 minutes and a double-arch procedure in 2.5 hours. 

How robotics helps with tooth implants

Successful installation of dental implants requires high precision. The traditional surgical technique requires the surgeon to have perfect hand movements without any guidance to create a flap that exposes the bone, which is the main source of pain and discomfort for the patient. 

However, this method may soon become a thing of the past. The minimally invasive, flapless Yomi surgical approach has been proven to lead to faster surgery, faster recovery, and reduced pain for the patient. 

Cost reduction is also a factor. Dentist Eddie Kotari believes that using Yomi will reduce the cost of implants by $500: "Right now, when we do implants, we have to take impressions to create a surgical "template" that must be drilled into the jaw to stabilize it. This takes time, scalpels, and sutures." 

Dental surgeons using Yomi do not need to use surgical "templates," create a flap, use a scalpel, or place sutures. It is logical to assume that patients would prefer a surgical method without all the frightening tools and painful sensations. 

The future of dental robotics

Every year, dentists in the US install more than 5 million dental implants in more than 189,000 dental offices. According to an article published in MedCity News several years ago, the platform costs about $150,000, and Neocis charges a fee for each implant. 

The same article says that dental implants remain an elective procedure not covered by insurance. This means Neocis must sell the platform to surgeons who may not see its value or understand their own benefit. A new generation of dentists may appreciate having more hands during surgery, as they can earn more income and pay off their student loans faster. 

Yomi is already used to train students at two leading dental schools: the Henry Goldman School of Dental Medicine and the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. This means future dental surgeons will learn during their studies that robotic assistance is the norm in dental implant surgery. 

If robotic platforms such as Yomi deliver on their promise to improve the quality of dental procedures for patients and increase the number of procedures that can be performed per year, they will become standard equipment for every dentist who wants to remain competitive.