Mini-robot Aims to Restore Teeth

(CONNECT) Researchers at the universities of Zurich, Bern, and Basel are working on the development of a dental robot that could simplify and speed up the preparation of dental crowns in the future. According to a press release from the University of Zurich's Center for Dental Medicine, the idea for the MIR (Miniature Intraoral Robot) originated there. According to the press release, an initial prototype was produced at the Biromed laboratory at the University of Basel.

The MIR measures 43 x 26 x 28 millimeters, making it easy to place in the mouth. The system is controlled externally via flexible shafts and cables from a computer workstation. According to the doctors, in the future the robot could use a scan to precisely plan how to remove the damaged tooth and prepare it for a crown. To ensure accurate measurements, the MIR should be mounted on a custom-made dental splint. “Even if the patient turns his or her head, the MIR moves with them,” Yukiko Tomooka, a researcher and the lead author of the study published in *IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics*, is quoted as saying in the press release. The dental robot is currently being tested on dental models made of synthetic resin and a ceramic with a hardness similar to that of tooth enamel. Position errors were less than 0.2 millimeters. In the future, this is expected to be further reduced through the use of sensors and position correction.

The project, funded by Innosuisse, was developed in collaboration with Camlog Biotechnologies GmbH of Basel. ce/ww