What to expect with robot-assisted full-arch surgery

If you have booked robot-assisted surgery, or you are considering it, you probably have a very human question: what is this actually going to be like? The word “robot” can make people picture something cold or sci-fi. The reality is calmer and more familiar than you expect. From your side of the chair, a robot-assisted full-arch day feels a great deal like any well-run full-arch surgery — the robot is working quietly in the background to keep things precise, not changing what you feel. Here is the honest walk-through, start to finish.

Before anything starts: comfort first

The day does not begin with the robot. It begins with getting you comfortable. Your surgeon reviews the plan built from your CBCT scan, you settle into the chair, and the area is thoroughly numbed with local anesthetic. If you have chosen sedation — IV sedation is common for full-arch — it is started and adjusted to your comfort level. Your team waits and checks to make sure you are fully numb before anything else happens. This part is unrushed on purpose.

Once you are numb, the pain pathway from that part of your mouth is switched off. From here on, what you experience is pressure and vibration — the awareness that work is happening, without the hurt. Keep that distinction in mind: the jawbone itself has very few pain nerves, so between the numbing and the nature of bone, pressure is the sensation, not pain.

Setting up the guidance

Here is the one step that is unique to robotic surgery, and it is undramatic. A small tracking piece is attached to your jaw so the Yomi system can follow your jaw’s exact position in real time. This is what lets the guidance adapt if you move, rather than assuming your head is perfectly still. Your surgeon confirms the plan on the screen and registers everything so the live position of the drill lines up with the 3D map of your jaw.

You do not have to do anything for this except relax. If you are sedated, you likely will not remember it at all.

The placement itself

With you numb and the guidance set, your surgeon places the implants. This is ordinary implant surgery, done with an extra layer of precision:

Your surgeon holds and moves the handpiece, preparing each site in bone one careful step at a time, with constant water cooling to protect the bone.
The Yomi arm keeps the drill on plan in position, angle, and depth, gently resisting if the instrument drifts. Your surgeon feels that guidance and watches the live position on screen.
For a full arch, this repeats for each of the four to six implants, following the shared plan so they all cooperate to support your bridge.

Throughout, your surgeon is fully in control. The robot does not move on its own or take over. What you feel is the same pressure and vibration of any implant placement — the robot changes accuracy, not sensation.

Same-day teeth, in many cases

One of the reasons full-arch is life-changing is that many patients leave the same day with a set of fixed temporary teeth attached to the new implants — often called “teeth in a day” or immediate loading. Whether this is right for you depends on how firmly the implants grip your bone at placement (primary stability) and on your surgeon’s judgment. When it is appropriate, after the implants are placed, a temporary bridge is fitted before you go home. There is a dedicated article on immediate loading in the procedure pillar if you want the detail.

How long it takes and how you’ll feel after

Plan for the appointment to run a few hours. Much of that is the calm preparation around the surgery — numbing, positioning, attaching the tracking piece, confirming the plan — plus fitting the temporary if you are getting same-day teeth. The actual placement is a smaller part of the visit than people expect.

Afterward, you will need someone to drive you home if you were sedated. Some swelling, mild soreness, and a bit of bruising are normal in the first days and are managed with the medication and instructions your surgeon provides. The robot does not change recovery; healing follows the same biology as any implant surgery, covered in the recovery guidance.

The honest bottom line

A robot-assisted full-arch surgery day is calmer and more familiar than the word “robot” suggests. You are numbed and sedated to your comfort, a small tracking piece lets the system follow your jaw, and your surgeon places each implant while the Yomi arm keeps everything on plan. You feel pressure, not pain, because the area is numb and bone has few pain nerves. The robot adds precision, not discomfort, and many patients walk out the same day with fixed temporary teeth. This is general education, not personal medical advice — your surgeon’s plan for your specific case, including sedation and whether same-day teeth are appropriate, always governs your day.

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Common questions

Does robot-assisted surgery hurt more or less than normal?

Neither, really. Pain control comes from local anesthetic and any sedation you choose, and those are the same regardless of whether a robot guides the drill. Because the inner jawbone has very few pain nerves and the area is fully numb, patients typically feel pressure and vibration, not pain. The robot affects precision, not how the surgery feels.

Am I awake during robotic surgery?

That is up to you and your surgeon. Full-arch surgery is commonly done with IV sedation, so most patients remember little to nothing, though local anesthesia alone or general anesthesia may be options depending on the case and your health. The robot works the same regardless of your sedation level. See the sedation article in the procedure pillar for details.

How long does the appointment take?

Plan for a few hours. A good portion is unhurried preparation — numbing, positioning, attaching the tracking piece, and confirming the plan. The implant placement itself is a smaller part of the visit, and if you are receiving same-day teeth, fitting the temporary bridge adds time. Your surgeon will give you a schedule specific to your case.

This article is general education, not medical advice. Every mouth is different — talk to a licensed dentist or oral surgeon about your own situation before making a decision.