Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Robot dentist performs first human procedure

newatlas.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 381 posts

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#21

Post by sameoldtune »

nerdjon wrote: post #19

Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over). But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? People already have a ton of anxiet…

I read the headline to my partner and they said “AI is here to make the dentist scary again”

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#22

Post by galangalalgol »

bluGill wrote: post #6
Mistletoe wrote: post #2

I’m simply too old and seen too many BSOD to ever allow this to be done on me. Also I just watched the Fallout episode with the Mr. Handy in it. The picture in the article of the robot hand moving a drill into his mouth fills me with intense dread. Maybe the younger generation would feel differently. I didn’t let my Tesla drive either.

> I didn’t let my Tesla drive either. I know how bad humans are at driving. I don't have a Tesla, so I don't know if I'd let one drive, but they only need to be better than humans not perfect. I just wish there was some unbiased source of data as to how good they are - the only numbers I can find come from those who have reason to lie (mostly Tesla, but other self driving car companies as well). There are rules aroun…

My experience with the recent tesla supervised-but-still-full self drive beta was largely positive. I have a cameras only Y with hw4. I think John Carmack will win his bet. I do think they need regional model modifications though. The way you drive in different places is different. In some places you can't signal that you want to change lanes or people close ranks. In others people make room. It did two stops at each stop sign in places that had no crosswalks, picking some arbitrary distance before the intersection to watch for pedestrians, then it pulled up to look for road traffic. Perhaps not a horrible idea, but humans around here don't do that so it confuses other drivers and pedestrians both.

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#23

Post by [deleted] »

whimsicalism wrote: post #4

It’s going to become increasingly apparent in the US over time the degree to which doctors & the regulatory state are blocking us from getting cheap new care. Already ML algos are more accurate at diagnosing melanomas from an image than dermatologists - but we will never get that tech because doctors are fiercely protective of their salaries and have captured the arm of the state to help them do so.

[deleted]

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#24

Post by FromTheSteppe »

sameoldtune wrote: post #21
nerdjon wrote: post #19

Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over). But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? People already have a ton of anxiet…

I read the headline to my partner and they said “AI is here to make the dentist scary again”

Haha, as a 3rd worlder; I'd much rather take my chances with a robot dentist than a dentist who's father has ties with the ruling class, who's father has bought their university sit, or who's father (allegedly) being a veteran of a war that was finished 34 years ago has gotten them a university sit.

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#25

Post by BobaFloutist »

nerdjon wrote: post #19

Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over). But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? People already have a ton of anxiet…

>But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot?

Dentists are definitely trying. The drills have gotten smaller and gentler, my dentist (and many others) offers a headset so you can listen to music/podcasts while getting your cleaning, and overall they make an effort to be less scoldy and more encouragey.

The process itself is still kind of naturally unpleasant, and the billing sucks, but the people seem to have taken traditional criticisms to heart and made some moves to make it suck less.

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#26

Post by BenFranklin100 »

whimsicalism wrote: post #4

It’s going to become increasingly apparent in the US over time the degree to which doctors & the regulatory state are blocking us from getting cheap new care. Already ML algos are more accurate at diagnosing melanomas from an image than dermatologists - but we will never get that tech because doctors are fiercely protective of their salaries and have captured the arm of the state to help them do so.

The medical establishment also artificially limits the number of doctors in order to keep salaries high. I live in Boston, arguably the top city for medical care in the US, and it is not uncommon to have a six month waiting list to see a specialist. People talk about prescription drugs being the cause of high medical costs in the US, but it’s really the hospitals and doctors that are driving the majority of the costs.

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#27

Post by lovethevoid »

whimsicalism wrote: post #4

It’s going to become increasingly apparent in the US over time the degree to which doctors & the regulatory state are blocking us from getting cheap new care. Already ML algos are more accurate at diagnosing melanomas from an image than dermatologists - but we will never get that tech because doctors are fiercely protective of their salaries and have captured the arm of the state to help them do so.

If only you guys had universal healthcare and therefore the state would prioritize cheap new care to minimize those costs.

Re: Robot dentist performs first human procedure

#28

Post by nerdjon »

sameoldtune wrote: post #21
nerdjon wrote: post #19

Its cool tech, don't get me wrong. But maybe, before we remove any amount of comfort with another human being we look at wether all of the dental practices are actually backed by science (which there is some scruitiny over). But also going to the dentist already isn't exactly pleasant, the pokes, scrapes, drill noises, etc. Maybe we improve that first before sticking it in a robot? People already have a ton of anxiet…

I read the headline to my partner and they said “AI is here to make the dentist scary again”

Honestly... yeah.

As someone who 5 or 6 years ago was not going to the dentist since the very idea of it gave me anxiety after having a particularly bad and damaging dentist experience as a kid. When I would to to the dentist I would have a fight or flight moment just sitting in the chair. (TLDR, I was told they were going to do one thing as a kid, but they purposefully lied to me and did something else thinking I would be less anxious about it happening... yeah that went swimmingly)

The only way I got over that was being able to talk to the Dentist that I was working with, having them explain step by step what they are doing, they check in regularly, etc etc. I finally feel mostly comfortable going, to this specific dentist. The idea of switching has me anxious.

The idea of a robot, while great maybe it could have less human error and all that. No... just, no.

Post reply on HN