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Clinically Beautiful Smiles, Made with Robots - Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental

Join host Henry Norton in this episode of The Crux of Medtech as he speaks to Paul Roberts, co-founder of CMR Surgical and current CEO of Lupin Dental. Paul shares the journey from building surgical robots in a former pig shed to co-founding one of the most recognised names in robotic surgery. Now, he’s applying that experience to an entirely new frontier, aesthetic dental robotics. In this episode, Paul explains why dental veneers are about more than vanity, how robotic precision can eliminate outdated practices like tooth stumping, and why Lupin’s tech could completely transform smile restoration. He also opens up about his medtech philosophy, including why engineers shouldn’t build products alone, and what it really takes to move from zero to launch in a capital-intensive field like robotics. Key Topics Why Paul left surgical robotics for dental robotics The founding story of CMR Surgical The clinical and aesthetic importance of veneers How Lupin reduces a 5-visit dental process into 1 What medtech can learn from AlignTech and Invisalign Building a profitable robot company without hundreds of millions Related Insights Crowns are outdated. Robotic veneers restore enamel with less damage Engineers alone don’t make great products clinicians must co-create One robotic session at Lupin replaces five traditional dental visits India is a strategic first market and a smart regulatory play Fail fast, but never compromise on patient safety Core Challenges Tooth restoration has long been inefficient: dentists rely on hand-guesswork for shaping and prepping teeth. It’s a manual, error-prone process that requires multiple appointments and can cause long-term sensitivity. Lupin Dental solves this with AI-powered planning, CAD design, and a precision robot that prepares the tooth and bonds the veneer all in one session. Tune in now to hear how surgical-grade robotics are reshaping the smile economy and why Lupin Dental could be the next CMR.

Clinically Beautiful Smiles, Made with Robots - Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental

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Clinically Beautiful Smiles, Made with Robots

Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental


How Dental Robotics Could Redefine the Smile Economy — with Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, we sit down with Paul Roberts — a pioneer in surgical robotics as co-founder of CMR Surgical and now CEO of Lupin Dental, a company bringing robotic precision to aesthetic dentistry.

From a pig shed to a billion-dollar surgical platform, Paul’s journey spans some of the most influential chapters in MedTech. Now, he’s applying that same scale of ambition to one of healthcare’s most overlooked frontiers: smile restoration.


🚀 From Operating Rooms to Dental Chairs

Paul helped launch one of the most recognisable surgical robotics firms in the world — but instead of staying in orthopaedics or general surgery, he’s turned his attention to veneers.

Why?

Because traditional cosmetic dentistry is messy, manual, and often damaging. Most procedures rely on hand-sculpting teeth and require up to five visits to get the final result. Lupin’s robotic solution compresses that entire journey into a single, precision-guided session — while restoring more enamel and reducing long-term sensitivity.


🦷 What Makes Lupin Dental Different?

At its core, Lupin is tackling dentistry’s inefficiencies with the same tools that transformed surgery:

  • AI-powered planning

  • CAD/CAM design

  • Robotic precision

This combination allows for enamel-conserving, ultra-accurate veneer placement — without the traditional ‘stump-prep’ or guesswork involved in manual methods. The result? Faster treatment, better outcomes, and a smile designed with sub-millimetre accuracy.


💡 Key Takeaways from the Episode

  • Engineers can’t build alone — clinician co-creation is essential

  • Crowns are outdated — robotics offer a more enamel-friendly path

  • One robot session > five manual visits

  • India first isn’t random — it’s a smart regulatory and market strategy

  • VC scale without VC burn — Lupin aims for profit without $500M raises


🔍 Why This Matters for MedTech

This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about:

  • Crossing over from hospital robotics to consumer applications

  • Building hardware startups in capital-intensive sectors

  • Aligning clinical, aesthetic, and commercial outcomes

Paul’s insights show what it takes to build a robotics company with real-world traction — not just big valuations.

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Clinically Beautiful Smiles, Made with Robots - Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental
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Clinically Beautiful Smiles, Made with Robots - Paul Roberts, CEO of Lupin Dental

Join host Henry Norton in this episode of The Crux of Medtech as he speaks to Paul Roberts, co-founder of CMR Surgical and current CEO of Lupin Dental. Paul shares the journey from building surgical robots in a former pig shed to co-founding one of the most recognised names in robotic surgery. Now, he’s applying that experience to an entirely new frontier, aesthetic dental robotics. In this episode, Paul explains why dental veneers are about more than vanity, how robotic precision can eliminate outdated practices like tooth stumping, and why Lupin’s tech could completely transform smile restoration. He also opens up about his medtech philosophy, including why engineers shouldn’t build products alone, and what it really takes to move from zero to launch in a capital-intensive field like robotics. Key Topics Why Paul left surgical robotics for dental robotics The founding story of CMR Surgical The clinical and aesthetic importance of veneers How Lupin reduces a 5-visit dental process into 1 What medtech can learn from AlignTech and Invisalign Building a profitable robot company without hundreds of millions Related Insights Crowns are outdated. Robotic veneers restore enamel with less damage Engineers alone don’t make great products clinicians must co-create One robotic session at Lupin replaces five traditional dental visits India is a strategic first market and a smart regulatory play Fail fast, but never compromise on patient safety Core Challenges Tooth restoration has long been inefficient: dentists rely on hand-guesswork for shaping and prepping teeth. It’s a manual, error-prone process that requires multiple appointments and can cause long-term sensitivity. Lupin Dental solves this with AI-powered planning, CAD design, and a precision robot that prepares the tooth and bonds the veneer all in one session. Tune in now to hear how surgical-grade robotics are reshaping the smile economy and why Lupin Dental could be the next CMR.
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Meet Peter Verrillo, the CEO of Redefine Surgery. He joins your host, Henry Norton, in this episode to discuss the latest developments in orthopaedic AI. Throughout the conversation, Peter highlights how time-consuming knee surgery can be, and talks about the AI solutions that his company is creating to reduce the time spent in theatre. Peter also shares his journey as a founder of multiple different companies, touching on everything from funding and acquisitions to building prototypes in his basement. He also emphasises the benefits of working with device-manufacturing companies, as they will take his AI to market under a whitelabel. He states that this relationship is a key part of the medtech industry. Peter also touches on the importance of strong sales reps, suggesting that they should have training in both the software and robotics sides of this new technology in order to efficiently translate it to surgeons.

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