University College London and The Dentist Balham Limited KTP 24_25 R3

A dental practice in London is building a robotic arm that automatically positions a suction tube inside a patient's mouth during procedures. Today, a dentist or dental nurse must manually hold and adjust the suction tube to clear saliva, blood, and debris from the treatment area. This takes one person away from other tasks and can slow down complex procedures. The project aims to automate this step entirely, using sensors and a robotic arm to track the dentist's movements and keep the suction tip in the right place without human intervention. If the system works, a single dentist could work more efficiently, reducing procedure times and freeing the nurse to assist with other aspects of care. The technology could also improve patient comfort by maintaining consistent suction without the occasional jostle or repositioning of a manual tube. The project is a practical engineering development—it does not explore fundamental scientific questions. Its success would mean a new piece of dental equipment, tested in a real clinic, that could eventually be commercialised and adopted by other practices. The immediate impact is on workflow in the surgery, not on broader infrastructure or supply chains.