Dr. Yukiko Tomooka adjusts a robot no larger than a wine cork inside a dental model, its tiny drills poised to reshape a synthetic tooth with sub-millimeter precision. At the University of Basel, a team of engineers has built a miniature intraoral robot—dubbed MIR—that could one day transform how dentists prepare teeth for crowns, turning a multi-visit ordeal into a single appointment. For millions who dread the drill and the waiting room, this innovation promises not just convenience, but a fundamental shift in dental care delivery.
Today, a damaged tooth requiring a crown means at least two trips to the dentist: one to remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit a temporary crown, and another—days or weeks later—to install the permanent one. The delay is not just an inconvenience; it leaves patients vulnerable to sensitivity, infection, and discomfort. MIR aims to eliminate that gap. Using a digital scan taken at the first visit, dentists could plan the entire tooth preparation in advance, 3D-print a custom splint to anchor the robot, and mill the tooth to exact specifications—possibly while the patient waits for the crown to be fabricated on-site.
The prototype measures just 43 by 26 by 28 millimeters and operates in two precise stages: first flattening the tooth’s surface with a wide drill, then contouring the sides with a thinner one. Even without integrated sensors, MIR achieved a positional accuracy of less than 0.2 millimeters in tests on resin and ceramic models—on par with experienced dentists. The forces it exerts during drilling stayed below 5 newtons, comparable to the weight of a half-liter water bottle, minimizing risk to surrounding tissue. Remarkably, the robot moves with the patient; anchored to a custom splint, it compensates for head motion in real time, maintaining its exact position.
The next phase will make MIR even smarter. Researchers plan to add sensors and a micro-camera, allowing the robot to self-correct during operation and resume exactly where it left off—even after a power interruption. "Even after a power outage, MIR would know where it is and where it needs to continue," explains Professor Georg Rauter, who leads the research group. Developed in collaboration with the Center for Dentistry at the University of Zurich and Camlog Biotech in Basel, the robot exemplifies how close partnerships between engineers and clinicians can yield practical, patient-centered solutions.
While MIR is not yet ready for clinics, its potential is undeniable. If trials in live patients prove successful, this tiny machine could one day become a standard tool in dental offices, turning a lengthy, anxiety-laden process into a streamlined, single-visit procedure—ushering in a new era of precision dentistry.