Switching from surgical guides to the Yomi robotic system was a game-changer for Sathish G. Palayam, DDS. Below are a few highlights from Dr. Palayam's Q&A with Dr. Maragliano-Muniz.
Describe how your practice has changed since adopting the Yomi robotic system. What were you using before and what prompted you to switch?
There has been a significant change in my practice since adopting the Yomi robotic system. My staff is excited about how efficient it has made our planning process, and there is now a positive sense of confidence going into every surgery. Patients are also excited about the system because they’ve been hearing about robotic implant placements in the news. They’re initially intrigued about the idea, then when we talk about it, they get even more excited and want to have their implants placed that way.
The implant placement process I was using before Yomi was too time-consuming and I wanted a seamless transition from consultation to placement. My colleagues were incorporating robotics into their practices, so I decided to dive in. I no longer have to wait on a lab for guides and can do same-day surgeries. We don’t need to plan as far ahead. The Yomi system has been a game-changer for my practice.
When you think about the workflow using robotics versus surgical guides, what are the advantages that you’ve encountered?
Robotic guidance has no limitation on implant types, and treatment plans can be changed on the fly. We don’t have to reschedule patients for ill-fitting or missing parts with a static guide. The safety features allow for highly accurate and successful treatment. Yomi provides physical cues to prevent deviation from the plan and follows patient movement. The system provides a hard stop when the desired depth has been reached to prevent accidental striking of nerves, and it’s minimally invasive.
Describe your onboarding process with Yomi.
The learning curve has been minimal, and company support has been top-notch. I reached out to Neocis, and a sales representative came to my office with their mobile truck so my staff and I could learn more and demo the product. I was so glad my staff had the opportunity to see firsthand how user friendly Yomi is. At any office, when you’re incorporating new technology, staff can get overwhelmed. That was not the case with Yomi. Once we purchased, the office received two full days of in-depth, thorough training including hands-on training with patients. The onboarding process was seamless; any dental practice could do it.
How has treatment time changed with Yomi?
Treatment times in my practice have significantly improved. We’ve seen surgery time reduced almost by half. We no longer need to reschedule patients due to a missing part in the guided kit or the guide not fitting. I can go from CT scan to placement in 25 minutes.
What savings have you recognized since adopting Yomi?
We no longer have to pay for scan conversion, treatment planning, and guides, which has resulted in a huge reduction in our overhead costs. We’ve seen significant savings in cost and time.
What do you tell your colleagues who are still using surgical guides?
I tell them to get into some form of dynamic navigation system. Everyone needs to take a step back and examine what is and isn’t working for them. At the end of the day, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing quality work for your patients. That’s the bottom line. It’s time to move on to better, more efficient technology. We’ve all upgraded from flip phones to smart phones, so why wouldn’t we make this progression with our practice technology too? I encourage my fellow clinicians to at least look into the concept of robotic dentistry.
Related:
Haptic physical guidance (tactile feedback) with Yomi—It's a feel thing (video)
