Precision Dental Implants: Robotics Revolutionize Tooth Replacement at Blossom Dental

JORDAN PYSZ / iFoundMyDoctor.com
Costello appreciates a fine repair technician and considers Dr. Aljonaidy to be among the best.

Costello Shedrick is his own man, and he likes it that way. He used to work for a Daytona Beach business but now works for himself. This father of three daughters is also an outdoorsman. He enjoys biking, boating, swimming and fishing. He also likes to race motorcycles. His love for mechanics prompted his initial career choice. “I’m an auto technician by trade,” Costello discloses. “I’m good with my hands for working on vehicles. I used to work at the Ford dealership in town, but now I have my own handyman business.” It was a natural transition for Costello. “I like to repair things that are broken,” he expounds. “I can build or repair hurricane shutters, repair vehicles or even rebuild and paint them. I also have a lawn service.” One of Costello’s clients is Huda Aljonaidy, DDS, the founder of Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics in Ormond Beach, where she performs all aspects of comprehensive dentistry. Several years ago, Costello needed Dr. Aljonaidy’s help after a chipped lower left tooth became intensely painful. Costello suspected the tooth would have to be extracted, but Dr. Aljonaidy had other ideas. “It was a throbbing pain that rated about an eight on a scale of one to 10,” Costello laments. “When I drank cold fluid, it hurt instantly. And when I tried to eat something, the tooth let me know it was damaged. It messed up my entire eating and drinking routine. I had to think twice about what I ate or drank before I did it. “Interestingly, Dr. Aljonaidy said the tooth didn’t have to be removed. She performed a root canal on it. The procedure went very well, and I was no longer in pain.” More recently, Costello returned to Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics after two upper right teeth began to fail. Following a thorough examination, Dr. Aljonaidy recommended that both teeth be extracted and replaced with dental implants. Dental implants are root-shaped, screw-like bodies that are surgically placed into the jawbone, where new bone naturally grows around them to form the foundation for an abutment and replacement teeth. The replacement teeth can be a crown that is cemented or screwed onto the abutment, a partial bridge that can be affixed to one or more implants, or a full denture that can be fastened to a series of implants.

COURTESY IMAGE BLOSSOM DENTAL
Costello preps for a smile repair with Dr. Aljonaidy.

Advanced Technology

“Dental implants are not new to patients,” Dr. Aljonaidy explains. “They might not know much about them except that they can be used to restore their teeth. Agreeing to put a foreign object into their mouth to perform like a natural tooth takes a great deal of faith by patients. One challenge dentists have when placing implants in the jaw is that they have to mimic a tooth root, so the placement of the implants must be very precise.” Dental implants are surgically seated into the jawbone, but Dr. Aljonaidy notes that everybody’s bone is different, so the implant surgery must be customized for each patient. At Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics, this task is performed with the help of the most advanced technology for customizing the surgery and precisely placing the implants: robotic-assisted implant surgery. Yomi, which is manufactured by Miami-based startup Neocis, is the first and only FDA-cleared robotic system for dental surgery. To date, the Yomi platform has assisted in the placement of nearly 35,000 dental implants. “In the past, we assured proper implant placement by fabricating a three-dimensional surgical guide,” Dr. Aljonaidy describes. “We used it to guide the drill to the specific spot for seating the implant, so ultimately the replacement tooth can sit on it with the exact orientation and angulation of emergence. But now, we use robotic-assisted technology. This advanced tool eliminates the need for fabricating a bulky guide that often costs more than the implant.” The new technology consists of two arms. One arm attaches to the patient to verify the exact location of the mouth on the face. The other is operated by the implant surgeon after the parameters for the surgery are entered into the computer. “This innovative approach combines my expertise in the dental profession with the precision and consistency of advanced robotic technology,” Dr. Aljonaidy asserts. The process begins with a 3D x-ray and scan of the mouth. The system uses the imaging to create a virtual treatment plan that includes the optimal position and angle for the implant. The system uses this plan as a guide during the implant placement. “The robotic arm is controlled completely by me,” Dr. Aljonaidy assures. “I guide the drill to the predetermined position programmed into the system. “The robotic system provides me with instant, real-time feedback and guidance, so I can adjust the procedure as needed. “For example, if the patient’s bone density is not up to our expectations, I can switch to a longer or narrower implant while I’m working in the patient’s mouth. I simply pause my drill and make the change, and then continue the procedure guided by the robotic system. This ensures the implants are placed with the utmost accuracy and precision. As a result, the replacement teeth sit in a perfect position over the implants. “The robotic technology also gives me strict control over depth. If I go past a certain nerve, the robotic arm will stop me. And it has better accuracy with angles than a human hand. The robotic technology achieves better outcomes with fewer complications.” Further, the robotic technology makes the implant placement procedure less invasive. Dr. Aljonaidy is not required to cut the jaw wide open to perform the surgery. “The system sees through the patient’s gums and bone and projects the images onto a monitor, which I view while working,” she elaborates. “The robotic arm can navigate through a small incision with ease, which results in reduced trauma to the surrounding tissue and less discomfort. That makes for happier patients.”

“There Was No Pain”

Costello is among Dr. Aljonaidy’s happiest patients. As expected, his two failing teeth were extracted and replaced with implants that Dr. Aljonaidy seated using the advanced robotic technology. “The implant procedure went very well,” Costello reports. “I thought I was going to be in terrible pain, but there was no pain. Dr. Aljonaidy’s machine was very precise. I’m a mechanic, and I was amazed by how precise the machine was. Everything went smoothly for me. I experienced no issues during the procedure or after.” Costello is as impressed with Dr. Aljonaidy as he is with the robotics. “Dr. Aljonaidy is like an entrepreneur; she’s a real go-getter,” he enthuses. “She’s determined to do what needs to be done for me. She’s very knowledgeable, and she explained everything to me so I could understand it. “When I asked her about the machine, she said it’s the latest technology. I like that she uses the latest technology because I use it in my work as well. I like to move forward with things. I highly recommend Dr. Aljonaidy and Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics. My treatment has been very successful.”