New research has led to the development of a new battery-free sensor which could have a substantial impact on oral health. The new technology, called Densor, can be worn in the mouth as a dental brace. This technology can aid understanding of our mouths to researchers by providing useful data and insights.
The human mouth holds a vast range of information about our health, including both our oral health, and overall health.
In fact, data from our mouth can help scientists significantly, and is highly sought-after. But the process of collecting data from the mouth is challenging.
However, recent research has led to the development of a new battery-free sensor that can be worn in the mouth as a dental brace [1].
This research is exciting, and could provide scientists with an enhanced understanding of the mouth, whilst improving treatment outcomes for patients.
The new technology
The research was carried out by a team from Delft University and Radboud University in the Netherlands, Europe [1]. Their findings have been published in the Proceedings of the ACM on the Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies journal [1].
The researchers pointed out that using internal sensors in the mouth is challenging for safety reasons. Therefore, they wanted to find a way of adding sensors into the mouth in a safe and effective way [1].
The team found that they were able to leverage the popularity of dental braces, by adding tiny sensors into braces. This resulted in the creation of Densor [1].
Densor is a battery-free sensor, and can be worn in the mouth via a regular dental brace. Therefore, patients get the use of a regular dental brace, but with the added benefit of the sensor.
This approach presents an innovative method of gaining insights about the mouth. It can provide long-term data and information on the oral health of patients.
What are the uses and benefits of the technology?
This new technology has a range of uses. In fact, it could prove beneficial to the millions of people that wear braces on a daily basis.
One benefit is sleep monitoring. The technology is capable of monitoring breathing levels and tooth movement, which could help to diagnose sleep apnea or bruxism (teeth grinding) [1].
Then there is also the added benefit of monitoring dental wear. For example, as teeth become decayed, the technology will be able to sense this, which could help with the early identification of dental problems.
Moreover, jaw and head movements can be monitored too. This can help to monitor swallowing and drinking – which means any problems can be identified [1].
Another key benefit of the technology is that it only requires a smartphone for charging and data reading purposes [1]. Otherwise, no additional hardware is needed.
Researcher comments
This technology has the potential to be incredibly helpful. The researchers were delighted by the outcome, with the findings already proving impressive.
Przemyslaw Pawelczak, a professor at Delft University, is one of the lead authors of the research. He commented on the creation of the technology [2].
Pawelczak said that “Densor is more than just a technological innovation”, saying that instead, “it is a step toward accessible and inclusive health monitoring” [2].
Continuing, Pawelczak said that “the ability to collect real-time, long-term data in the mouth is truly innovative”, whilst opening “doors to new preventive and diagnostic possibilities in areas such as nutrition, dental wear, or acid reflux issues” [2].
The future
The creation of this technology is exciting. The findings from this phase of research should help to guide future research directions and treatments.
While this is a positive start, the researchers wish to take their work further. The researchers are currently working on expanding the technology – with the aim of adding more sensors and improving data processing [1].
These steps could help to provide even more benefits. For example, the researchers are hoping to be able to detect acid reflux, and even monitor saliva levels in the mouth [1].
With saliva being crucial in oral health, being able to monitor its levels in the mouth could be really helpful – especially in determining acidity levels and identifying those with dry mouths.
Hopefully, the research will result in a long-term improvement in treatment outcomes. The technology certainly appears to be capable of providing researchers with key information.
Thinking points…
1) This technology is very exciting, and could have a significant impact on oral health in the long run. However, for now we need to focus on practical ways of keeping our oral health strong, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Additionally, you should also attend regular dental check-ups so that any issues can be spotted and then treated. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) As discussed, the technology is very versatile. One such use for the technology could be detecting teeth grinding while sleeping. Teeth grinding affects many people without them realizing, and can result in enamel eroding. If you grind your teeth at night, mention this to your dentist at your next check-up, as they can provide advice on this.
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] Dsouza, V., Pronk, J., Peppelman, C., Madariaga, V. I., Pereira-Cenci, T., Loomans, B., & Pawelczak, P. (2024). Densor: An Intraoral Battery-Free Sensing Platform. Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies. 8 (4): p1-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3699746.
[2] Delft University of Technology. (2024). Battery-free dental brace reveals crucial health data via smartphone. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-battery-free-dental-brace-reveals.html. Last accessed: 4th December 2024.
