Oral Surgeon Sees Rise in Implant Volume Using Yomi^® by Neocis

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon J. Darrell Steele, DDS, MD, says that shifting his practice into the "robotic age of dentistry" has made placing implants easier, safer, and more predictable, while also doubling his implant volume.

Steele, who practices in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and has been an oral surgeon for more than 30 years, has a great appreciation for the dental treatment-planning advances made over the past decade, and in 2021, he began using the Yomi^® Robotic Dental Implant System by Neocis.

"I have experienced a doubling of my implant volume simply by patients' self-referral for robotic implant surgery, which can only be found at my office in my area," he says. "Also, I have received improved feedback from referring doctors praising better implant positioning, which allows them to restore these implants with fewer secondary components from the lab, such as custom abutments."

Yomi, the first and only FDA-cleared robotic device for dental implant surgery in the United States, provides haptic robotic guidance to augment the clinical expertise of skilled implant dentistry teams and delivers repeatable surgical precision, according to Neocis.

"Haptic guidance gives the handpiece heavy resistance when moving away from the planned position, and no resistance when moving the handpiece closer to the desired preplanned implant position," Steele explains. "This makes positioning the handpiece correctly easier while looking in the mouth, not at the computer screen. It's safer for the patient when the clinician can see where he or she is moving while close to adjacent teeth, gingiva, and other structures."

Dental clinicians who are interested in having these revolutionary advantages in their own offices need not worry about struggling to learn the technology, he adds. "Neocis is the best company I have worked with regarding training and after-the-sale follow-up and guidance," Steele says. "During the first 90 days the robot was in my office, I had a member of the Neocis team helping me with technical and planning questions and troubleshooting. They worked together with my team to make us comfortable."

Many of his patients are fascinated by the robotic equipment and curious to see the clinical workflow. "Some who choose to be sedated are disappointed they cannot watch Yomi work. Some patients ask if the robot is safe. I inform them the robot does not move by itself in treatment mode; only the surgeon can move the robotic arm," he explains.

From single implants to full-arch cases, Steele suggests implant patients can have peace of mind knowing their surgeon is using the latest technology for optimal placement while also being assured that the surgeon is steering clear of nerves, blood vessels, and sinuses in the area. "This technology will become increasingly common as we move into the robotic age of dentistry," he forecasts.

J. Darrell Steele, DDS, MD
Private Practice in Oral Surgery and Implants, Coppell, Texas

Neocis
855-963-6247
yomirobot.com