Microrobot plaque: The end of traditional dentistry

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• April 27, 2022

Insight summary

The rise of microrobots can reshape various industries, from enhancing efficiency in dental care to creating new opportunities in fields like plumbing, fashion, and environmental cleanup. In dentistry, microrobots can shorten appointment times and improve treatment outcomes. Beyond dentistry, the applications of microrobots are inspiring new technological development, opening doors to efficiency in various sectors, and leading to considerations of ethical boundaries and potential legal challenges.

Microrobot plaque context

A micro-robotic cleaning innovation was built in 2019 by engineers, dentists, and biologists based at the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers demonstrated that robots with catalytic activity could effectively remove biofilms—sticky manifestations of bacteria wrapped in a protective framework—using two types of robotic systems focused on layers and the other within limited areas.

Catalytic antimicrobial robots (CARS) involve two types of robotic systems equipped for dissolving and removing biofilms that have been developed or placed on a surface. The first CARS type involves floating iron-oxide nanoparticles in solvents and using magnets to plow through biofilms on a layer. The second method involves placing nanoparticles in 3D gel molds and utilizing them to identify and eliminate biofilms that choke confined passages. As a result, the CARS effectively eliminated species of bacteria, with the matrix around them broken down and associated debris cleaned with great accuracy.

Tooth decay, endodontic infections, and implant contamination might all be reduced using micro-robotic technologies, which remove biofilms. The same technologies can be used to assist dentists in the time-consuming task of cleaning plaque from a patient’s teeth during a routine dental visit. In addition, the mobility of these robots can be controlled using a magnetic field, enabling them to be steered without the necessity of a data connection.

Disruptive impact

By assisting dentists and dental hygienists in completing tasks with greater speed and accuracy, microrobots can enhance the overall patient experience. The reduction in the average length of dental appointments allows professionals to concentrate on more complex aspects of care, potentially improving dental health outcomes. However, this trend may also lead to financial challenges for manufacturers of traditional dentistry equipment, as their products become less relevant.

In addition to the impact on equipment manufacturers, the adoption of microrobots in dentistry may require significant changes in educational approaches. Dental training schools may need to revise their curriculums to include instruction on the use of microrobots, ensuring that future dental professionals are equipped with the necessary skills. This shift in training could create a more dynamic and responsive dental workforce, but it also presents challenges in terms of developing appropriate educational materials and methodologies.

Beyond the dental industry, the potential applications of microrobots range from refuse removal and general cleaning to infrastructure maintenance, plumbing, and clothing care. The success of microrobots in these areas could inspire young mechatronic engineers to explore careers in designing and building next-generation microbots. This trend may foster a new wave of technological development, opening doors to efficiency and precision in various sectors. 

Implications of microrobots

Wider implications of microrobots may include:

• The dentistry profession becoming increasingly automated and efficient, shortening appointment times and improving treatment outcomes for patients, leading to a potential shift in patient expectations and a higher standard of care.
• Reduced costs and greater availability of more complex dentistry surgery services as the growing automation of dentistry may push more dental students toward more niche forms of dentistry, expanding access to specialized treatments.
• Increasing the average cost of opening new dentistry clinics, which may limit the growth of independent dentistry clinics and advantage investor-led dentistry networks, potentially altering the competitive landscape of the industry.
• Other industries and services adopting microrobots, such as plumbing to clean blocked pipes, leading to more efficient maintenance and possibly reducing the need for manual labor in these sectors.
• Fashion brands leveraging microrobots to clean clothing stains or making various clothing materials more resistant to stains and damage, leading to extended garment lifespans and a potential shift in consumer buying habits.
• The development of microrobots for environmental cleanup tasks, such as oil spill remediation or waste collection, leading to more effective responses to environmental crises.
• A shift in the labor market towards specialized engineering and programming skills to design and maintain microrobots, leading to new career opportunities but also potential displacement of traditional manual labor roles.
• Governments implementing regulations to ensure the safe and ethical use of microrobots, leading to standardized practices and potential legal challenges as the technology evolves.
• The potential for microrobots to be used in surveillance or security applications, leading to privacy concerns and necessitating careful consideration of ethical boundaries.
• The use of microrobots in agriculture for tasks such as pollination or pest control, leading to more precise and sustainable farming practices, but also raising questions about the long-term effects on natural ecosystems.

Questions to consider

• How might you use microrobots in your daily tasks?
• What ethical guidelines, if any, should be considered when using microrobots in fields associated with human health?