Dr. Hanife “Bay” Bayraktaroglu’s newest addition to her team works like a machine — but that’s only because it is one. As a licensed prosthodontist, Dr. Bay has helped her patients achieve smiles they can be proud of for over two decades. But since bringing the new Yomi Dental Robot into her practice at Smile Rehab Centers a year ago, she’s already been able to help over 100 patients while reducing their pain and recovery time. With the support of her state-of-the-art $150,000 Yomi, Dr. Bay’s Southlake practice gives a glimpse into the future of dentistry.
I’VE BEEN IN DENTISTRY SINCE... 1997. I got my doctorate from the Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry in Istanbul, Turkey, then I moved to the United States after I got married. I specialize in full-arch cases in prosthodontics, which includes implants as well as partial crowns and old-fashioned dentures.
MY PRACTICE IS VERY... technology-driven. I’m a huge believer in the advancement of dentistry and how technology helps us grow and serve our patients better. Before Yomi, I used intraoral scanners to get a digital impression of patients’ oral cavities — teeth, bones, gums and all. Then I used a facial scanner to map out the implants and where the final placement needed to go in their mouths.
I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT YOMI FROM... the Neocis surgical robotics company directly. When they heard about all of the technology I had at my center, they wanted to meet with me and share what Yomi could do. They claimed it was the next big thing in dentistry, and it’s the only dental surgical system approved by the FDA. I ran a small test with it, and I loved it so much that I decided we had to have it.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I NOTICED WAS... how precise it was. When you scan the patient’s mouth, it allows you to plan for the best position and angle of the implant with pre-measured cutting. When I conduct the surgery, I am always in control of the drill from my laptop and can make adjustments as needed along the way, even if it’s mid-surgery. That’s because Yomi has a haptic guidance system that follows the placement even if the patient moves, ensuring accuracy every single time.
THE BEST THING ABOUT YOMI IS... it makes my work much more efficient. Before Yomi, I had to not only schedule the procedure itself — I also had to block out time for healing before the patient proceeds with the second-stage surgery. But because Yomi is minimally invasive, it takes care of both steps in one 10-minute procedure and eliminates the need for a follow-up. This results in less pain and bleeding overall and gives the patient a more comfortable recovery period.
WHEN WE DO THE SURGERY, THE PATIENT... can actually see the navigation system on the big screen. They find it very interesting, and they’re often surprised at how quickly it goes by. It’s just one, two, three, and they’re all done. It actually takes longer to numb the patient than it does to perform the actual procedure.
THE MOUTH IS... a very emotional area. That’s why dental patients are scared of the idea of doctors being inside their mouths. As a prosthodontist, I take pride in providing patients with an experience where they are relaxed and comfortable and feel like they can trust me with their smile.
THE GOAL OF TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS TO... serve the patient. That’s why I place such a huge emphasis on it. If it makes surgeries more accurate, more precise, more efficient and less painful, then it’s a no-brainer for me. I strongly believe that this will become the gold standard for implant procedures in the near future.