The Development of Endodontic Micro Robot

Abstract

Endodontic therapy, better known as root canal treatment, is a procedure performed to remove damaged and/or infected tissue from the inner canals of teeth and seal the canals to prevent the teeth from being a source of infection. Each year more than 24 million teeth receive endodontic treatment in the United States. A typical procedure includes access preparation (opening crown with drills), root canal shaping and cleaning, and then root canal filling. This treatment is expensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. The outcome relies on the clinician’s skill, which is gained through years of training and practice. The success quotient of this treatment is 60–65% for general dentists and 90% for specialists (endodontists). There is a need for advanced endodontic technology innovation. This paper will describe the process of mechanical design of computer-controlled micro machine, which will perform the automatic probing, drilling, cleaning, and filling of the root canal. The paper will also discuss the innovations involved from the traditional way endodonticsts treat root canal to science and technology based automation.