Clinical application of robots in dentistry: A scoping review

PURPOSE

The surge in digitalization and artificial intelligence has led to the wide application of robots in various fields, but their application in dentistry started relatively late. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively explore and map the current status of the clinical application of robots in dentistry.

STUDY SELECTION

An iterative approach was used to gather as much evidence as possible from four online databases, including PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, from January 1980 to December 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 113 eligible articles were selected from the search results, and it was found that most of the robots were developed and applied in the United States (n = 56; 50%). Robots were clinically applied in oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral implantology, prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, and oral medicine. The development of robots in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral implantology is relatively fast and comprehensive. About 51% (n = 58) of the systems had reached clinical application, while 49% (n = 55) were at the pre-clinical stage. Most of these are hard robots (90%; n = 103), and their invention and development were mainly focused on university research groups with long research periods and diverse components.

CONCLUSIONS

There are still limitations and gaps between research and application in dental robots. While robotics is threatening to replace clinical decision-making, combining it with dentistry to gain maximum benefit remains a challenge for the future.

Ultraviolet disinfection (UV-D) robots: bridging the gaps in dentistry

Maintaining a microbe-free environment in healthcare facilities has become increasingly crucial for minimizing virus transmission, especially in the wake of recent epidemics like COVID-19. To meet the urgent need for ongoing sterilization, autonomous ultraviolet disinfection (UV-D) robots have emerged as vital tools. These robots are gaining popularity due to their automated nature, cost advantages, and ability to instantly disinfect rooms and workspaces without relying on human labor. Integrating disinfection robots into medical facilities reduces infection risk, lowers conventional cleaning costs, and instills greater confidence in patient safety. However, UV-D robots should complement rather than replace routine manual cleaning. To optimize the functionality of UV-D robots in medical settings, additional hospital and device design modifications are necessary to address visibility challenges. Achieving seamless integration requires more technical advancements and clinical investigations across various institutions. This mini-review presents an overview of advanced applications that demand disinfection, highlighting their limitations and challenges. Despite their potential, little comprehensive research has been conducted on the sterilizing impact of disinfection robots in the dental industry. By serving as a starting point for future research, this review aims to bridge the gaps in knowledge and identify unresolved issues. Our objective is to provide an extensive guide to UV-D robots, encompassing design requirements, technological breakthroughs, and in-depth use in healthcare and dentistry facilities. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of UV-D robots will aid in harnessing their potential to revolutionize infection control practices in the medical and dental fields.