Because the fear of going to the dentist is so pervasive, Japanese scientists have created a special robot that enables dentists in training to learn how to be more sensitive to the pain of their patients. If the dental trainee tugs too hard on a tooth or hits a nerve, the robot actually reacts to the pain. In fact the five-foot-three robot has been programmed to say "It hurts" and to frown when it feels uncomfortable. "Because it's so real, dental trainees can see patients' feelings and will be able to develop good skills as they treat it not as an object, but as a human being," says Tatsuo Matsuzaki, an official at robot maker Kokoro Company. "The point is that we can share people's pain without hurting people. Treatment technique is important, but it's also important to feel what it's like to be a patient."
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