| interview g n o L e D d r a p e h S © tive to deal with the rigidity and freedom of a robotic arm and incorporated dental handpiece. Also, driver lengths, hand-based carriers, and low maximum torque values added to the challenges. How does AI play a role in selecting the most suitable zirconia implant size, shape, and placement for each patient? At this point, AI plays a negligible role in implant selection. I know this will come. As talk to text and AI can code, we will trend towards an automated, ultra-precise, surgical and restorative plan. For now, it is a lot of thought, expe- rience and care that goes into making each case a suc- cess. In what ways can AI assist in real-time decision-making during the surgery itself, considering factors like bone density and tissue response? This is where the “haptic guidance” of the Yomi robot as well as the freehand feel of the X-Guide allows the sur- geon to feel the bone. Visualisation of the surgical site with physical guidance is where Yomi shines. During sur- gery with the X-Guide the surgeon’s eyes must be on the screen, with Yomi you get both, freehand tactile feel, hap- tic feedback, and you can use real-time visual observa- tions to modify surgery towards achieving great out- comes. How are ethical concerns addressed, such as patient consent, data security, and the responsible use of AI in the context of oral surgery? Have you faced any issues on that? Thank you for asking. Almost all our patients have been very receptive of Yomi, it was preceded by X-Guide, and my previous commitment to place ceramic implants ex- clusively. There is regulatory clearance on all these prod- ucts and devices, and yet we encounter the unknown and untested when using all of them together. This is where new connections, new workfl ows, and ultimately, new solutions to human health problems will come from. We have a thorough understanding of risk, and believe 36 implants 3 2023 privacy, autonomy, and informed consent are all para- mount in modern medicine. There will be new standards of care. It is up to us to defi ne them. We seem to have entered the era of new and exciting discoveries in dentistry. Please share this journey with us and give us a few concluding words. I know that the readers of ceramic implants will take what I have said here with a proverbial “grain of salt” or a bit of healthy caution. I think that is wise. Let experience guide your wisdom and opinion. After you see something in- triguing, promising even, follow your own intuition and go where it leads. If we utilise new ideas and technology while allowing our human knowledge and hearts to guide what to do, the results are going to build a new reality. This is just the beginning, AI, robotics, ceramic implants, the fu- ture we are creating is already here. When we see solu- tions, I think we must share. I will look forward to continu- ing our conversation and journey! about the interviewee Dr Shepard DeLong is a 3rd generation dentist in Portland, Oregon, USA. He holds a BS from Portland State Univer- sity, DMD from Oregon Health and Sci- ences University and completed a Gen- eral Practice Residency at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a member of AMED, IAOCI, EACim, IAOMT, and has served as a mentor for CEREC-doctors. He was formerly an associate at the fi rst LEED certifi ed, high-tech, eco-friendly practice in the US. He is on the forefront of digital evolution, and development of novel technological workfl ows in dentistry. He has a part-time position at Pure Health Dentistry on the island of Maui, Hawaii and owns Lotus Dental Wellness, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is a resi- dency site director for the MSc Implantology programme at the University of Jacksonville, and lectures on ceramic implantology, robotics, lasers, and digital dentistry. His latest project has been sharing the profound advantages of combinational technologies for the health of both doctor and patient. He can be reached at drdelong@lotusdentalwellness.com. Dr Shepard DeLong contact Lotus Dental Wellness www.lotusdentalwellness.com m o c . e b o d a . k c o t s – s e y e k n p © i