Fighting Tooth Cavities with Innovative Internet of Dental Things (IoDT)
Despite the popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT), the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is also at the forefront of the digital transformation of many industrial sectors. It has also helped to revolutionize the healthcare industry drastically since as early as 2009. Improvements in diagnostic techniques and advancements in the electronics world have fueled the introduction of Internet of Dental Things (IoDT) technology.
The IoDT in dentistry is an innovative approach to help prevent dental diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancers. Dental caries is also known as tooth decay or dental cavities, which is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. Since 2018, many dental researchers in IoDT have begun to focus on this particular type of oral disease by preventing dental caries caused by bacteria-forming biofilm. Acid production resulting from the bacterial metabolism of sugars creates an environment that increases the speed of demineralization of calcium on the tooth’s hard structure. Over time, loss of tooth substances such as enamel and dentine is inevitable and will lead to pain, infections, and tooth loss.
In the journal Advanced Materials, innovative miniaturized sensors developed by researchers at the Tufts University School of Engineering that, when mounted directly on a tooth and communicating wirelessly with a mobile device, can transmit information on glucose, salt, and alcohol intake. This miniaturized sensor is constructed with a small 2mm x 2mm dimension that can flexibly conform and bond to the irregular surface of a tooth. The sensor is made up of two outer layers and a central layer.
The outer layers consist of two square-shaped gold rings. The central layer is a bioresponsive layer that can detect chemicals like salt, ethanol, and glucose since its electrical properties are unique and can transmit a specific radio frequency spectrum. Its concentration can be translated with varying intensity.
All three layers together act as a tiny antenna, collecting and transmitting data information. It can transmit data wirelessly in response to an incoming radiofrequency signal. Interestingly, the incoming wave that hits the sensor where is canceled out, and the rest is transmitted back. The mechanism of how it works is similar to how we perceive color, where the object’s color represents the wavelengths that reflect back to our eyes.
Using the common RFID technology, the researchers have begun to extend the RFID function to dynamically read and transmit information on its environment. Another area of focus is to modify the bioresponsive layer to detect different chemicals.
One of the features that these wearable IoDT sensors is tracking a user’s diet by detecting and measuring the nutrients and other analytes. The data collected by the sensors can be further analyzed, and it can provide dentists and medical professionals with insights into the dietary habits of the wearer. By understanding the tooth’s surface’s pH chemistry, preventive measures can be implemented. For example, naturally, tooth enamel has the ability to repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and IoDT can assist us in monitoring and keeping our optimal pH level to achieve natural mineralization. Consequently, dental caries is reversible if it’s minor tooth decay, and knowing this dental insight can help us prevent the cavity from gradually worsening.
Internet of Dental Things (IoDT) sensor can be further developed for monitoring those cariogenic factors with the help of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which may lead us to find some patterns in the chemical compositions and its presence to discover the intricate biochemical mechanisms that may be unknown to the scientists. All this newfound knowledge could result in the prevention and early detection of other oral diseases. There are still many opportunities and explorations in dentistry that await us.
About the Author
Arthur Wang