The procedures included three implant cases carried out with a robotic system supported by 3D imaging and digital treatment planning. The doctors involved said these were regular treatments for patients, rather than a demonstration of technology.
The procedures involved specialists connected with SmileClinic in the Baltic city of Gdańsk, including Dr. Krzysztof Chmielewski, Dr. Adam Pióro and Dr. Maja Chmielewska.
Dr. James Chow, a Hong Kong-born oral and maxillofacial surgeon regarded as one of the pioneers of robotic dentistry, also took part.
"Robotics has become a reality in Poland and in Europe," said Chmielewski. "What happened in recent days is a breakthrough moment, for our country and for the whole region.”
Dentistry has become increasingly digital in recent years through the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanners and computer-guided treatment planning.
CBCT is a type of 3D X-ray used to show the teeth, jaw and surrounding anatomy. Robotic systems go further by helping guide surgical instruments during the procedure and compensating for small movements by the patient or operator.
Doctors said this can be especially important in implantology, where even small deviations in the position of an implant can affect function, appearance and long-term results. The system allows instruments to follow a planned path while the doctor remains in control of the procedure.
"Robots and digital systems are only tools," said Chow. "In the hands of the best clinicians, they gain sense and meaning. The most important people are the doctors, the teams and their experience."
Chow said he had seen "a very high level of dentistry in Poland” and strong commitment from specialists. He added that the technology fit well with that standard of care.
Pióro, who performed one of the procedures, said robotic support changed the way dental surgery was planned and carried out.
"I had the pleasure of performing the first operation, but without the team it would have meant nothing," he said. "In one case, we were working in the esthetic zone, in another with more complex anatomical conditions. The robot allowed very precise guidance of instruments and stabilization of the whole procedure."
Maja Chmielewska pointed to the system’s ability to adapt during treatment. "Even when the patient moved, the system adapted immediately," she said. "Those minimal movements were compensated for in a way that would be difficult to achieve manually."
Experts say robotic dentistry does not mean replacing doctors with machines. The technology is intended to assist clinicians by improving stability, precision and predictability.
"I do not think we will soon see robots performing procedures on their own," Chow said. "We will rather see deeper cooperation between the doctor and the system. The robot supports, stabilizes and guides, but decisions remain with the clinician."
The model is sometimes described as cyber-dentistry, meaning dentistry in which digital systems become part of the treatment process without taking over clinical decision-making.
The spread of such systems will depend on cost, training and access to equipment. For now, robotic dentistry is likely to remain concentrated in specialized centers. Doctors involved in the Polish procedures said more such centers are expected to appear in coming years.
"This is only the beginning," Chmielewski said. "We do not yet know how far this technology will go, but we know that it is already changing the way we treat patients."
(rt/gs)
Source: zdrowie.pap.pl