New research has led to the development of an interactive mouthpiece called “MouthIO”. This creation aims to provide dentists and patients alike with accurate data and insights into the mouth. This should improve our understanding of our oral health, and provide dentists with additional information about our teeth.
Interesting new research has resulted in the development of an interactive mouthpiece which could be used to help oral health [1].
The interactive mouthpiece makes use of artificial intelligence and other technology to provide accurate insights into the mouth and overall oral health [1].
This marks a new approach to technological devices. This approach could aid oral healthcare, and provide dentists with greater insights into the health of their patients.
Background
Wearable technology is certainly growing in popularity. It is common to use smartwatches to track physical health, and smart glasses can provide users with experiences of augmented reality.
With the increase in the popularity of this type of technology, it is unsurprising that a mouth-based wearable technology has now been developed.
Improving oral health around the world is a key goal for healthcare professionals. Therefore, any new technology that assists with this goal is very helpful!
The Research
The research was carried out by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Aarhus University – based in Denmark. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology journal [1].
The researchers were interested in developing an interactive mouthpiece. As a result, they managed to create a device named “MouthIO” [1].
MouthIO is a dental brace that includes sensors and feedback components which can capture real-time in-mouth interactions and data [1].
The researchers explained in their research how MouthIO is created. To begin with, a patient’s teeth is scanned. MouthIO is a see-through brace that is then developed in order to fit the teeth, as per the scan. A patient is then able to 3D print their design in dental resin [1].
The side panel of MouthIO can be customized to integrate electronic components such as batteries and sensors, which can help to source crucial data [1]. For example, the sensors can detect tongue movement.
Or another example would include MouthIO using a temperature sensor to vibrate when a drink exceeded a certain temperature, thus protecting the mouth from harm [1].
Moreover, MouthIO can detect bruxism – the habit of teeth grinding. The brace can track jaw and bite movements, which can then be monitored by dentists [1].
Furthermore, the researchers suggested that it is also possible to attach small electronic devices on individual teeth – aiding the ability to get tooth-specific data if needed [1].
This could be particularly useful for those looking for insights into just one tooth. For example, a dentist may wish to monitor a specific tooth in case it requires a root canal treatment. Wearable technology could facilitate this.
This can aid diagnosis of dental problems and provide guidance for better-suited treatment options for patients.
Looking to the future
The aim is that in the future, this technology could assist healthcare professionals – including dentists – to collect health data on the mouth [1].
Additionally, the researchers have pointed out that patients could carry out their own scan, which would cost around $15 – representing strong value for money [1].
The hope is that MouthIO could become a mainstream wearable technology that is worn daily, or when needed [1].
Senior author Michael Wessely, who is an Assistant Professor at Aarhus University, discussed using the mouth for the purpose of interactive wearable technology [2].
Wessely said that “the mouth is a really interesting place for an interactive wearable and can open up many opportunities, but has remained largely unexplored due to its complexity” [2].
Continuing, Wessely said “we’ve developed a new kind of device that’s comfortable, safe, and almost invisible to others”, before saying that health professionals “are eager about MouthIO for its potential to provide new health insights, tracking things like teeth grinding and potentially bacteria in your saliva.” [2].
The next step with MouthIO involves the use of clinical trials – which will test its effectiveness in real-life situations. If the trials work well, it could be released to the public for consumer use in the future.
Thinking points…
1) This technology is very interesting, and could one day have a significant impact on our oral health. However, for now we need to focus on more practical ways of keeping our oral health strong. Dentists are able to detect any problems with your oral health, and provide advice. Therefore, it is important to visit a dental clinic for a check-up regularly. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) In the above article, it was discussed that MouthIO could help with detecting bruxism – also known as teeth grinding. Bruxism can be very damaging to our teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, it is important to mention this to your dentist. They might be able to provide advice, or recommend a guard to protect your teeth.
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Jiang, Y., Kleinau, J., Eckroth, T. M., Hoggan, E., Mueller, S., & Wessely, M. (2024). MouthIO: Fabricating Customizable Oral User Interfaces with Integrated Sensing and Actuation. Proceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology. 1: p1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3654777.3676443.
[2] Shipps, A. (2024). Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, hands-free interactions. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-10-interactive-mouthpiece-opportunities-health-technology.html. Last accessed: 31st October 2024.
