Dental Brokers

Your next teeth cleaning could save your life. Dentists use a new device called the "Velscope" to detect oral cancer before it surfaces.

One of the main reasons most people avoid visiting the dentist is dental anxiety or fear of dentist. Dental anxiety drives some people to create more dental problems by not visiting the dentist on a regular basis. According to Floss.com, between nine percent and 15 percent of the American population -- about 30 million to 40 million people -- avoid essential dental care because of fear or anxiety.

The figure in the dentist's chair can say "ouch," and her eyes may flash in pain. But trust us, she's not feeling a thing. She's an animated robot with a high-tech set of pearly whites. Students and resident doctors are currently testing the robot, dubbed Simroid, at Tokyo's Nippon Dental University.