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 In this episode, Paul explains why dental veneers are about more than vanity, how robotic precision can eliminate outdated practices like tooth stumping, and why Lupin’s tech could completely transform smile restoration.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AlignTech and Invisalign Building a profitable robot company without hundreds of millions Related Insights Crowns are outdated.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