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Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are

Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over). But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? People already have a ton of anxiety about going to the dentist. Removing humans will make that worse. I realize this is early, but still. I feel like we skipped some things.

maxglute 2y ago
My friend swears his dog tooth paste was better at preventing plaque build up than human tooth paste and it got me thinking that big dentistry probably have incentive to not improve effectiveness of human tooth paste. Then I read the ingredients and it's pretty similar so what do I know.
sameoldtune 2y ago
I read the headline to my partner and they said “AI is here to make the dentist scary again”
- FromTheSteppe 2y ago
  Haha, as a 3rd worlder; I'd much rather take my chances with a robot dentist than a dentist who's father has ties with the ruling class, who's father has bought their university sit, or who's father (allegedly) being a veteran of a war that was finished 34 years ago has gotten them a university sit.
- nerdjon 2y ago
  Honestly... yeah. As someone who 5 or 6 years ago was not going to the dentist since the very idea of it gave me anxiety after having a particularly bad and damaging dentist experience as a kid. When I would to to the dentist I would have a fight or flight moment just sitting in the chair. (TLDR, I was told they were going to do one thing as a kid, but they purposefully lied to me and did something else thinking I would be less anxious about it happening... yeah that went swimmingly) The only way I got over that was being able to talk to the Dentist that I was working with, having them explain step by step what they are doing, they check in regularly, etc etc. I finally feel mostly comfortable going, to this specific dentist. The idea of switching has me anxious. The idea of a robot, while great maybe it could have less human error and all that. No... just, no.
BobaFloutist 2y ago
>But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? Dentists are definitely trying. The drills have gotten smaller and gentler, my dentist (and many others) offers a headset so you can listen to music/podcasts while getting your cleaning, and overall they make an effort to be less scoldy and more encouragey. The process itself is still kind of naturally unpleasant, and the billing sucks, but the people seem to have taken traditional criticisms to heart and made some moves to make it suck less.
- nerdjon 2y ago
  > and overall they make an effort to be less scoldy and more encouragey. Oh, 100%. Yeah there has for sure been progress. I do also recognize that my anxiety is not just "oh I don't like the dentist", I was lied too. That breaks that trust. I remember before I found my current dentist, I was having a ton of pain and I tried to find someone. I called them, explained the situation, explained the anxiety and where it was coming from. They reassured me, we have someone who knows how to help with that. I went there, the dentist came in, I again explained the anxiety and where it came from. This was meant to be a, get comfortable thing. It wasn't a cleaning, just talking. He decides the entire time that he was feeling around my mouth with his fingers, he would hold the scraping tool inches from my face. And then, right at the end to purposefully do a quick little scrape as if, its not big deal see its not that bad. I just got through telling you I was lied too, that is not the time to do something without telling me that you said you were not going to do to try to convince me that "its not that bad". And then he was like, yeah so we have time if you want to get a cleaning. I have not wanted to get up and leave as quick as I had in that situation in my life, never went back... That is a rant, sorry about that. But that moment is burned into my brain. I was so thankful to find my current dentist. When I told them, the dentist called me while I was at home to talk to me in my space that I am comfortable in. Then when I got there I just sat in the chair for a while talking, not laying back, my feet were at the side.
  - inhumantsar 2y ago
    I've had three dentists in my life. One lied to me, one stuck a toe over the line of informed consent and handed me an unexpected bill, the third half-assed his job leaving me with unnecessary work which ended up causing problems later in life. I'm sure there are great dentists out there who are honest and empathetic but I haven't met one and don't plan on rolling the dice again anytime soon.
pessimizer 2y ago
I'm not bothered by any of these concerns, none of them are more important than cheap dental care because bad teeth and gums are agony that may lead to heart disease or cancers. The only thing I'm concerned about other than costs are failsafes. If the thing (or rather the 20th generation of the thing) can be absolutely guaranteed not to cause a disaster in someone's mouth (it should panic on the most minor confusion), and is cheaper than dentists (not hard) it should be made standard. If somebody needs a dentist to hold their hand, they can go to a fancy clinic that has some sort of doula. But normal people used to get their dentistry done by the same guy who would cut their hair.
- nerdjon 2y ago
  > I'm not bothered by any of these concerns, none of them are more important than cheap dental care. Is there really any indication that this will make any change to the cost of dental care? Is the dentists the problem or is it the other parts? There still has to be someone there to manage it. Also this machine will not be cheap either, will require maintenance, etc. From what I have seen most robot operated medical things, are not to replace jobs but for precision that humans just can't do. Or to reduce human error. > But normal people used to get their dentistry done by the same guy who would cut their hair. I would strongly advise against saying "normal" when dental anxiety is very much a thing for many people. I would likely even say most people have some sort of dental anxiety. There is a reason that a lot of people don't get their regular cleanings, and I am sure cost is part of that but not all of it.
- mlyle 2y ago
  I mostly agree with you, but note that “absolutely guaranteed” to not have a terrible outcome is not something human practitioners provide. The standard should be comparable.
crystalmeph 2y ago
> But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? From the article: > The machine's first specialty: preparing a tooth for a dental crown. Perceptive claims this is generally a two-hour procedure that dentists will normally split into two visits. The robo-dentist knocks it off in closer to 15 minutes. So this robot is actually improving the dental experience for the patient, which will hopefully reduce anxiety as well as reducing costs.
- 77pt77 2y ago
  > which will hopefully reduce anxiety as well as reducing costs. We all know this is not going to happen. You'll just pay a premium for the novelty.
  - bradfa 2y ago
    I would pay slightly more if it meant I only had to be in the dentist's chair once for 15 minutes instead of 2 hours split over 2 visits.
    - 77pt77 2y ago
      There you go. You already have an excuse.
anticristi 2y ago
I guess the dentist will simply push a few buttons, while a cheaper dental hygienist will do the comforting.
hcfman 2y ago
Does it say "Sorry, my bad" in a cool robot voice when it screws up?

maxglute 2y ago

My friend swears his dog tooth paste was better at preventing plaque build up than human tooth paste and it got me thinking that big dentistry probably have incentive to not improve effectiveness of human tooth paste. Then I read the ingredients and it's pretty similar so what do I know.

sameoldtune 2y ago

I read the headline to my partner and they said “AI is here to make the dentist scary again”

FromTheSteppe 2y ago
Haha, as a 3rd worlder; I'd much rather take my chances with a robot dentist than a dentist who's father has ties with the ruling class, who's father has bought their university sit, or who's father (allegedly) being a veteran of a war that was finished 34 years ago has gotten them a university sit.
nerdjon 2y ago
Honestly... yeah. As someone who 5 or 6 years ago was not going to the dentist since the very idea of it gave me anxiety after having a particularly bad and damaging dentist experience as a kid. When I would to to the dentist I would have a fight or flight moment just sitting in the chair. (TLDR, I was told they were going to do one thing as a kid, but they purposefully lied to me and did something else thinking I would be less anxious about it happening... yeah that went swimmingly) The only way I got over that was being able to talk to the Dentist that I was working with, having them explain step by step what they are doing, they check in regularly, etc etc. I finally feel mostly comfortable going, to this specific dentist. The idea of switching has me anxious. The idea of a robot, while great maybe it could have less human error and all that. No... just, no.

BobaFloutist 2y ago

>But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? Dentists are definitely trying. The drills have gotten smaller and gentler, my dentist (and many others) offers a headset so you can listen to music/podcasts while getting your cleaning, and overall they make an effort to be less scoldy and more encouragey. The process itself is still kind of naturally unpleasant, and the billing sucks, but the people seem to have taken traditional criticisms to heart and made some moves to make it suck less.

nerdjon 2y ago
> and overall they make an effort to be less scoldy and more encouragey. Oh, 100%. Yeah there has for sure been progress. I do also recognize that my anxiety is not just "oh I don't like the dentist", I was lied too. That breaks that trust. I remember before I found my current dentist, I was having a ton of pain and I tried to find someone. I called them, explained the situation, explained the anxiety and where it was coming from. They reassured me, we have someone who knows how to help with that. I went there, the dentist came in, I again explained the anxiety and where it came from. This was meant to be a, get comfortable thing. It wasn't a cleaning, just talking. He decides the entire time that he was feeling around my mouth with his fingers, he would hold the scraping tool inches from my face. And then, right at the end to purposefully do a quick little scrape as if, its not big deal see its not that bad. I just got through telling you I was lied too, that is not the time to do something without telling me that you said you were not going to do to try to convince me that "its not that bad". And then he was like, yeah so we have time if you want to get a cleaning. I have not wanted to get up and leave as quick as I had in that situation in my life, never went back... That is a rant, sorry about that. But that moment is burned into my brain. I was so thankful to find my current dentist. When I told them, the dentist called me while I was at home to talk to me in my space that I am comfortable in. Then when I got there I just sat in the chair for a while talking, not laying back, my feet were at the side.
- inhumantsar 2y ago
  I've had three dentists in my life. One lied to me, one stuck a toe over the line of informed consent and handed me an unexpected bill, the third half-assed his job leaving me with unnecessary work which ended up causing problems later in life. I'm sure there are great dentists out there who are honest and empathetic but I haven't met one and don't plan on rolling the dice again anytime soon.

pessimizer 2y ago

I'm not bothered by any of these concerns, none of them are more important than cheap dental care because bad teeth and gums are agony that may lead to heart disease or cancers. The only thing I'm concerned about other than costs are failsafes. If the thing (or rather the 20th generation of the thing) can be absolutely guaranteed not to cause a disaster in someone's mouth (it should panic on the most minor confusion), and is cheaper than dentists (not hard) it should be made standard. If somebody needs a dentist to hold their hand, they can go to a fancy clinic that has some sort of doula. But normal people used to get their dentistry done by the same guy who would cut their hair.

nerdjon 2y ago
> I'm not bothered by any of these concerns, none of them are more important than cheap dental care. Is there really any indication that this will make any change to the cost of dental care? Is the dentists the problem or is it the other parts? There still has to be someone there to manage it. Also this machine will not be cheap either, will require maintenance, etc. From what I have seen most robot operated medical things, are not to replace jobs but for precision that humans just can't do. Or to reduce human error. > But normal people used to get their dentistry done by the same guy who would cut their hair. I would strongly advise against saying "normal" when dental anxiety is very much a thing for many people. I would likely even say most people have some sort of dental anxiety. There is a reason that a lot of people don't get their regular cleanings, and I am sure cost is part of that but not all of it.
mlyle 2y ago
I mostly agree with you, but note that “absolutely guaranteed” to not have a terrible outcome is not something human practitioners provide. The standard should be comparable.

crystalmeph 2y ago

> But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? From the article: > The machine's first specialty: preparing a tooth for a dental crown. Perceptive claims this is generally a two-hour procedure that dentists will normally split into two visits. The robo-dentist knocks it off in closer to 15 minutes. So this robot is actually improving the dental experience for the patient, which will hopefully reduce anxiety as well as reducing costs.

77pt77 2y ago
> which will hopefully reduce anxiety as well as reducing costs. We all know this is not going to happen. You'll just pay a premium for the novelty.
- bradfa 2y ago
  I would pay slightly more if it meant I only had to be in the dentist's chair once for 15 minutes instead of 2 hours split over 2 visits.
  - 77pt77 2y ago
    There you go. You already have an excuse.

anticristi 2y ago

I guess the dentist will simply push a few buttons, while a cheaper dental hygienist will do the comforting.

hcfman 2y ago

Does it say "Sorry, my bad" in a cool robot voice when it screws up?