How do you feel about automating the tooth cleaning process through microrobot technology? Well, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania decided that they should try. The School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science teamed up to create a shapeshifting micro swarm of iron oxide nanoparticles that can effectively clean plaque from teeth.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
This microrobot technology was developed by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Pennsylvania. The building blocks of these microrobots are iron oxide nanoparticles that possess both catalytic and magnetic activity. The researchers showed that they could use a magnetic field to manipulate the nanoparticles’ shape and direct their motion. Using this magnetic activity, the microrobots could form either bristle-like structures or elongated strings that could sweep away dental plaque from broad surfaces and in between teeth.
The catalytic activity of the microrobot nanoparticles would activate hydrogen peroxide to release free radicals to help eliminate plaque and bacteria that cause tooth decay.
This electromagnetic system is “fully programmable” and can use different variations to control the stiffness and length of bristle formations. It can also determine the speed and motion of the microrobots depending on the topography of an individual’s oral cavity. The Penn team will continue optimizing the robots’ motions and determine the best mouth-fitting device to advance the innovation to the clinic.
EFFECTS ON ORAL HEALTH
The team at the University of Pennsylvania describes their microrobot technology as being particularly valuable to those who lack the manual dexterity to effectively clean their own teeth. The researchers found that this system cleaned surfaces of all detectible pathogens.
Professor Michael Koo says, “We’d love to see this helping the geriatric population and people with disabilities. We believe it will disrupt current modalities and majorly advance oral health care.”
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The concept of combining sparkling water with vinegar to make a healthier sweet drink has been around for some time. Shrubs are fruit and vinegar-infused syrups that can be used in other drinks like cocktails, for example. Using a sweeter vinegar like balsamic eliminates the need to add sugars.
The study showed that there was a positive association between high carbohydrate, glycemic foods and Streptococcus mutans, a contributor to tooth decay and some types of cardiovascular disease. The scientists also observed Leptotrichia spp., which has been linked to gingivitis, to be positively associated with sugar intake.
I recently learned of an abandoned pyramid in rural Australia. In which, you can find a basement full of sculptures made from real teeth. The property, along with the pyramid, was purchased by Norma Cosson and her late husband, Dr. David Lye, in the late 1980s.
As Dr. Lye’s dental career was nearing its end, he began to realize how much material he had left over. Being the unique character that he was, he enjoyed building sculptures out of the discarded teeth and dentures from his practice. For years, he cleaned most of the teeth he pulled from people who didn’t want to keep them and kept them in a box. He began to utilize these materials for quirky 3D artwork.
We always love getting to see our customers in-person and meet new leaders of the industry face-to-face. What better place to do so than in Chicago every year at LMT’s Lab Day event? Well, it’s almost that time again, and we can’t wait to see some old faces and meet some new ones.