The Human Touch in Robotic Surgery: Dr. Bao-Thy N. Grant's Approach to Yomi

Continual discoveries in robotic technology are advancing the oral and maxillofacial surgery specialty. Dr. Bao Thy N. Grant is at the forefront of this progress, utilizing Yomi-Enabled Surgery (YES) to offer patients a revolutionary experience. Robotic surgery allows procedures to be digitally planned on the patient's CBCT scan based on predictable restorative goals, providing surgeons with haptic guidance during the entire operation. This haptic feedback ensures precision and eliminates deviations from the planned surgical approach.

Deciding to Invest in Yomi

Dr. Grant loves progressive technology and is dedicated to being at the forefront of her profession. After using i-CAT during her residency training at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, she immediately adopted the technology as a recent grad in 2008 and similarly embraced Yomi when provided an opportunity in 2017.

“The craft is always evolving,” she says. “We can’t rest on our laurels. We must stay innovative and be on top of the literature.”

Although she is excited for new technology, Dr. Grant prioritizes patient safety, comfort, and predictable outcomes when deciding if it’s a fit for her practice; she comes to the table with a long list of questions. Yomi, however, was a familiar concept to her. She had already seen the success of Intuitive DaVinci robotics as a resident, when she observed surgeons using the technology for prostate cancer, and knew its use resulted in minimal blood loss and amazing patient outcomes.

“I was already enamored by robotic technology as a resident,” she says. “I had the opportunity of being asked if I would be a Pioneer for dental robotics in OMFS. It was an investment to provide patient safety and patient outcomes. The decision was a no-brainer for me.”

She loves implementing new technology but believes it’s important for every surgeon to make an independent decision for themselves on how and when to adopt new technology. More importantly, sharing the vision with her staff, enabling them to be just as thrilled, makes the process even better.

The Importance of the Human Touch

Dr. Grant is always eager to enhance her practice with progressive equipment and believes devoting time to training her staff to excel is an important piece to this progression. As such, she spends countless hours training her team clinical anchors when adopting new technology.

At every stage of robotic technology use and implementation in OMFS, the human touch is essential: "It's not about the robot replacing the surgeon, it's about the robot guiding and enhancing what the surgeon can perform based on the plan,” Dr. Grant emphasizes. “We are planning and mapping out all aspects of the dental implant surgery. The robot allows us to execute our plan in a precise manner. The planning portion is the most essential part and the robot is only as good as the Surgeon planning it.”

Human insight and empathy are something Dr. Grant encourages among all her staff members. She and her staff are compelled to provide the ultimate care for their patients — care they would expect for themselves. Exceptional technology, she believes, is meaningless without a skilled, dedicated and highly trained team who can implement it while comforting the patient. Realizing this, she prioritizes nurturing her staff and emphasizes that it is they who are the number one reason for the success of her cases and practice.

“They each play an integral role and support me immensely so that I can deliver the very best care for our patients,” she says.

She shares: “I always tell them, ‘It’s how you make people feel. That’s how patients return and the referral base grows. It is not how many dental implants you do in a year; rather, it’s how you impacted your patients with their surgical experience from the consultation, surgery, and post-operative visits.’ My staff believes in my core vision but also about rolling out the red carpet to make that experience for our patient’s profound. We owe it to our patients to give them our very best.”

Employing Clinical Anchors to Train Staff

Tapping into the passions of her staff is another key to Dr. Grant's approach. She believes each team member has a unique gift, and it's her responsibility to identify those strengths. This allows her to create a culture that empowers them to take on roles where they can truly excel, whether it's as a front office coordinator or a surgical assistant.

Dr. Grant doesn't just train her staff — she equips them to take their skills to the next level and provide exceptional care to patients. This dedication was on display during the initial stages of implementing Yomi technology. Learning the complex surgical splints was initially daunting back in 2018, but her team persevered and the methods and materials improved for a better experience. They took it upon themselves to master a seamless application technique that significantly improved the patient experience.

Moments like these reaffirm Dr. Grant's love for her profession. She shares, "Being in healthcare is a selfish pleasure for me. I am able to perform oral surgery daily and serve the community, something I love. I also get to make people feel educated and confident to own all aspects of their care. That takes a special level of skill and trust. It is a level of hospitality that is intentional."

Dr. Grant’s passion for innovation, coupled with her unwavering commitment to patient well-being, makes her a perfect fit for Yomi-Enabled Surgery. This technology, combined with her expertise and a stellar team, has been instrumental to her goal of advancing patient care and innovation. At the end of the day, her patients’ feedback speaks loudest — and in regard to Yomi, their perspective has been overwhelmingly favorable, citing seamless recovery.

Although Dr. Bao Thy N. Grant is a Pioneer for Yomi by Neocis, she does not get paid for this designation. All of the opinions in this article are her own.

Dr. Bao Thy N. Grant

Dr. Grant graduated from the University of Southern California Dental School. She did her internship and residency at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She received the Leo M. Davidoff Society Award.

Dr. Grant’s philosophy of care is to combine integrity, compassion and knowledge to ensure patients the highest level of care for their surgical needs.