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Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

penntoday.upenn.edu

41–50 of 224 posts

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#41

Wait so, what do these microrobots actually look like? Are they just small black bristles that you put in your mouth?

Iron nanoparticles controlled by a magnetic field it seems like. The thing I'm curious about though is, how do they remove all the iron particles afterward? Would I just get a month's dose of iron each time this thing brushes my teeth?

More magnets?

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#42
post #30
post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

There is quite some innovation, but consumers are slow to adopt IMO. Last year, my dentist warned me I have quite severe receded gums. This was due to me pushing my toothbrush too hard. So, after doing some research I bought an ultrasonic toothbrush. These have a static head (it does not oscillate/rotate) which emits ultrasonic waves to clean your teeth. Same principle of an ultrasonic parts cleaner. The head is stil…

I'm not sure if I am comfortable with the idea of sending ultrasonic waves into the brain every day ...

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sponge you put in your mouth made me think for the first time about how much bacteria is potentially on a normal toothbrush. I'm betting this product is even less hygienic since it's a sponge instead of only bristles.

Why not leave your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide overnight?

Do you refresh the H2O2 every day?

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#44
post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

I want something that I can use in the office (i.e., without easy access to a sink).

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#45
I wonder if in the future this could be used to help care for people in long term hospital stays who are unable to brush/floss, or people who require at home care. Very interesting idea but I think it will take a long time for the general public to adopt this tech.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#46
post #20

If you're young, don't laugh. Once I turned 40 my dental hygienists really spent a lot of time educating me on how to properly brush my teeth. It really requires delicate care. (Remember, most of our ancestors didn't live to be old enough to need delicate dental hygiene.) If something like this works, it'll be wonderful. Carefully cleaning my teeth when I'm half asleep is not fun.

>Remember, most of our ancestors didn't live to be old enough to need delicate dental hygiene.)

Really low historical life expectancy figures are mostly due to extremely high infant and childhood mortality as well as higher mortality in childbirth. It's not like adults were elderly at 40.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not leave your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide overnight?

Good idea, it's just I never thought twice about the cleanliness of a toothbrush. I guess it's been ingrained in me to think it's normal to run a toothbrush under water to "clean" it.

It has bacteria that was already in your mouth right? Unless the bacteria multiplies and grows outside of your mouth I don’t think it’s much of an issue.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#48
post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

I think it's because incumbents in the space have played a huge role in preventing adoption of new technologies that actually prevent disease. Dentists make money not from preventing disease, but from performing procedures when disease has already progressed to the point of no return.

Cavities and gum disease are bacterial infections that are completely preventable. I feel the need to plug what we've been building at https://www.bristlehealth.com/. We've built an at-home test that leverages the microbes in the mouth to detect disease, and provide actionable and personalized recommendations that can reduce your risk of gum disease, cavities and persistent bad breath.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#49
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is quite some innovation, but consumers are slow to adopt IMO. Last year, my dentist warned me I have quite severe receded gums. This was due to me pushing my toothbrush too hard. So, after doing some research I bought an ultrasonic toothbrush. These have a static head (it does not oscillate/rotate) which emits ultrasonic waves to clean your teeth. Same principle of an ultrasonic parts cleaner. The head is stil…

Looks like 250 EUR on their website?

Looks like that pricing has not been updated for a while. I paid something like 200 euros, that was about a year ago. Most online retailers in my country now list them for less than 100 euros.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#50
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you seen how much it costs to get crowns or implants? There’s zero incentive for innovation, people keep bringing their money.

I would like to think that most dentists like their patients to have healthy, cared for teeth and that they play in important role in it. I would not like to think that most of them actually work to our detriment so that they can do more expensive, painful procedures on our mouths and teeth. That’s a pretty cynical outlook I’d need to see evidence for.

I’d like to think that, but my dentist makes about $170/year from me having healthy teeth. They make $1500/crown (in addition to the $170 for cleaning).

I’ve been to three dentists this year. I find it interesting that one said I had an emergency and needed a crown right away (a year ago), one said they’d watch the tooth, and one said nothing.

Cynically, I don’t like agency issues where experts make lots of money off their advice and it’s difficult to double check.

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