University of Basel Develops Intraoral Crown Robot

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a miniature intraoral robot that could enable single-visit crown preparation in dental practice. Reported on 25 June 2026, the cork-sized device performs digitally planned tooth reduction from inside the patient’s mouth, with the goal of removing the second appointment that has long been standard in traditional crown workflows. Further testing and the integration of positional sensors are next.

Developed by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the robot is roughly the size of a cork and designed to sit comfortably inside the mouth, with externally located controls connected via flexible cables. A custom-fitted dental splint, generated from the same diagnostic scan that plans the crown, anchors the device and allows it to move with the patient if the head shifts during treatment. The crown can be ordered immediately after scanning.

The robot operates in two stages, first using a wider drill to remove material from the top of the tooth, then a finer drill on the sides. In testing on synthetic resin and ceramic samples with hardness comparable to tooth enamel, the margin of positional error was below 0.2mm, with that figure expected to fall further once positional sensors are integrated. Drilling force was measured at under five newtons. Yukiko Tomooka, first author of the paper, noted the device would retain spatial awareness through power interruptions thanks to sensor data. Dental robotics remains largely experimental in UK clinical settings, though robot-assisted implant platforms are already in use overseas.

Single-visit crown workflows have been the holy grail of restorative dentistry for years, with the chairside CEREC line going some way to shortening turnaround times. A precision intraoral robot would close the loop further, though commercial viability hinges on noise levels, regulatory pathway and procurement economics in a category where capital spend per chair is already substantial.

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