Search Results (29)

Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent yet preventable non-communicable diseases worldwide, disproportionately affecting populations with limited access to dental care and persistent socioeconomic inequalities. Early-stage lesions frequently remain undetected because of their asymptomatic nature, inadequate screening infrastructure, and the absence of continuous monitoring technologies, resulting in preventable complications and increased healthcare costs. To address these challenges, this study proposes an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled intraoral wearable sensing device (I-OWSD) for continuous, quantitative, real-time monitoring of biomarkers associated with caries progression. The proposed framework integrates intraoral wearable sensing, cloud-based telemedicine services, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted analytics to support preventive oral healthcare and remote clinical decision-making. Two primary contributions are presented. First, a fractional-order delay-type model (FODM) based on the Caputo–Fabrizio derivative is proposed to capture the memory-dependent and nonlocal dynamics of caries progression. Mathematical analysis establishes the model’s non-negativity, boundedness, existence, uniqueness, and stability properties. Second, a biocompatible intraoral sensor interface is designed to enable continuous data acquisition and secure wireless communication with digital health platforms. Simulation results based on the proposed FODM suggest that, under an estimated adoption rate of 67.49%, the I-OWSD framework could reduce caries prevalence by approximately 15% while improving opportunities for early intervention and preventive care. The findings demonstrate the potential of combining fractional-order modelling, wearable sensing, and AI-driven teledentistry to advance continuous oral health monitoring and preventive dental care. Full article

Tongue biomechanics are central to swallowing, yet commonly used clinical assessments provide limited insight into the forces and coordination underlying bolus propulsion. Sensor technologies have emerged to address this gap, but the literature remains fragmented across device classes, calibration approaches, and outcome definitions. This narrative review synthesizes sensor modalities used to characterize tongue biomechanics in dysphagia assessment and rehabilitation. A structured search of biomedical databases identified studies describing pneumatic, piezoelectric, strain gauge, capacitive, optical, and position-tracking systems. Across modalities, consistent physiological patterns are observed, including anterior-to-posterior pressure sequencing and task-dependent modulation with bolus properties. However, cross-study comparison is constrained by variability in sensor configuration, placement, and calibration, limiting the development of shared normative thresholds. To address this, we introduce a comparative maturity framework that situates modalities along a continuum from clinically established to proof-of-concept systems. Pneumatic and piezoelectric devices demonstrate the strongest evidence base and clinical integration, whereas capacitive and optical systems remain early-stage with minimal validation in patient populations. Position-tracking approaches provide complementary kinematic information but remain constrained by cost and ecological validity. Progress will require standardized calibration frameworks, harmonized protocols, and multimodal integration to support clinically interpretable metrics of tongue function. Full article

Background/Objectives: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with marked inter-individual heterogeneity and well-established links to cardiometabolic and other systemic conditions. Conventional clinical diagnostics remain indispensable. However, they provide limited real-time insight into molecular activity and host-response biology. This review aimed to synthesize recent advances in point-of-care diagnostics and emerging molecular biomarkers relevant to periodontal disease and its systemic associations. Methods: We performed a state-of-the-art narrative review of literature published between 2018 and 2026. The focus was on point-of-care biosensing technologies and molecular biomarkers assessed in oral and related biological matrices. These included saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, blood, and dental plaque. Evidence was prioritized based on analytical performance, clinical validity, and translational readiness. Results: Substantial progress has been made in multiplex optical and electrochemical point-of-care platforms. These include microfluidic systems and early intraoral wearable sensors. Such technologies enable quantification of host-response proteins, including MMP-8, cytokines, and chemokines. In parallel, omics-derived biomarkers are emerging as clinically informative adjuncts for diagnosis and monitoring. MicroRNAs, cell-free DNA, extracellular vesicle–derived signals, proteomic profiles, and microbiome classifiers demonstrate promising discrimination. They also provide mechanistic links to systemic inflammation. Clinical translation remains limited by study heterogeneity, spectrum bias, and insufficient external validation. Conclusions: Near-term clinical value lies in adjunctive risk stratification and longitudinal disease monitoring. Replacement of conventional periodontal examination is not currently justified. Meaningful clinical and public-health impact will require standardized disease definitions. Harmonized sampling and reporting protocols are essential. Multicenter validation across comorbidity strata is needed. Regulatory-grade evidence must be generated for in vitro diagnostics and artificial intelligence software classified as medical devices. Full article

Background: Intraoral radiography remains highly operator-dependent, with small deviations in beam angulation or receptor placement leading to geometric distortions, diagnostic inaccuracies, and repeated exposures. This pilot study introduces and evaluates a gyroscopic-guided, laser-assisted radiographic device designed to standardize cone positioning and improve the geometric reliability of bisecting-angle intraoral radiographs. Methods: Eighteen dental graduates and practitioners performed periapical radiographs on phantom models using a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor over six months. Each participant obtained six standardized projections with and without the device, yielding 200 analysable radiographs. Radiographic linear measurements included tooth height (occluso–apical dimension) and tooth width (mesio-distal diameter), which were compared with reference values obtained using the paralleling technique. Radiographic errors—including cone cut, elongation, proximal overlap, sliding occlusal plane deviation, and apical cut—were recorded and compared between groups. Results: Use of the gyroscopic-guided device significantly enhanced geometric accuracy. Height measurements showed a strong correlation with reference values in the device group (r = 0.942; R² = 0.887) compared with the non-device technique (r = 0.767; R² = 0.589; p < 0.0001). Width measurements demonstrated similar improvement (device: r = 0.878; R² = 0.770; non-device: r = 0.748; R² = 0.560; p < 0.0001). Overall, the device reduced technical radiographic errors by approximately 62.5%, with significant reductions in cone cut, elongation, proximal overlap, sliding occlusal plane errors, and tooth-centering deviations. Conclusions: Integrating gyroscopic stabilization with laser trajectory guidance substantially improves the geometric fidelity, reproducibility, and diagnostic quality of intraoral radiographs. By minimizing operator-dependent variability, this innovation has the potential to reduce repeat exposures and enhance clinical diagnostics. Further clinical trials are recommended to validate performance in patient-based settings. Full article

Low-cost RGB intraoral cameras are accessible alternatives to intraoral scanners; however, generating panoramic images is challenging due to narrow fields of view, textureless surfaces, and specular highlights. This study proposes a robust stitching framework and identifies optimal acquisition parameters to overcome these limitations. All experiments were conducted exclusively on a mandibular dental phantom model. Geometric consistency was further validated using repeated physical measurements of mandibular arch dimensions as ground-truth references. We employed a deep learning-based approach using SuperPoint and SuperGlue to extract and match features in texture-poor environments, enhanced by a central-reference stitching strategy to minimize cumulative drift errors. To validate the feasibility in a controlled setting, we conducted experiments on dental phantoms varying working distances (1.5–3.0 cm) and overlap ratios. The proposed method detected approximately 19–20 times more valid inliers than SIFT, significantly improving matching stability. Experimental results indicated that a working distance of 2.5 cm offers the optimal balance between stitching success rate and image detail for handheld operation, while a 1/3 overlap ratio yielded superior geometric integrity. This system demonstrates that robust 2D dental mapping is achievable with consumer-grade sensors when combined with advanced deep feature matching and optimized acquisition protocols. Full article

Background: Intraoral pressure contributes significantly to bolus transport during swallowing, along with tongue and pharyngeal pressures. However, conventional assessment methods (e.g., manometry, tongue pressure measurement) have limitations, including invasiveness, difficulty in capturing pressure gradients, and reliance on cognitive function. Objective: This study aimed to examine differences in intraoral pressure between patients with dysphagia and healthy controls using a newly developed, noninvasive intraoral pressure sensor. Methods: Sixteen individuals with dysphagia were categorized into two groups based on the Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS): eight with mild dysphagia (DSS6-5) and eight with moderate dysphagia (DSS4-3). Seven healthy young adults (DSS7) were included as controls. Intraoral pressure was measured using a sensor enclosed in a silicone balloon placed in a standardized position. Three thickened liquids (mildly, moderately, and extremely thick) were tested, and intraoral pressure duration, peak pressure, and area were analyzed. Results: Pressure duration and area significantly increased with higher-viscosity samples in participants with dysphagia. Both parameters were significantly higher in the dysphagia groups than in controls (p < 0.001). For the extremely thick sample, pressure area was significantly greater in the mild dysphagia group than in controls (p = 0.031), and in the moderate group across all viscosities (p = 0.036; mildly thick, p = 0.010; moderately thick, p = 0.006; extremely thick, respectively). Conclusions: Intraoral pressure measurement may be a valuable supplementary screening tool, particularly for identifying moderate or more severe dysphagia. Full article

Tryptophan (Trp) and tryptamine (Tryp), critical biomarkers in mood regulation, immune function, and metabolic homeostasis, are increasingly recognized for their roles in both oral and systemic pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, and inflammatory conditions. Their rapid, sensitive detection in biofluids such as saliva—a non-invasive, real-time diagnostic medium—offers transformative potential for early disease identification and personalized health monitoring. This review synthesizes advancements in electrochemical sensor technologies tailored for Trp and Tryp quantification, emphasizing their clinical relevance in diagnosing conditions like oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and breast cancer, where dysregulated Trp metabolism reflects immune dysfunction or tumor progression. Electrochemical platforms have overcome the limitations of conventional techniques (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and mass spectrometry) by integrating innovative nanomaterials and smart engineering strategies. Carbon-based architectures, such as graphene (Gr) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized with metal nanoparticles (Ni and Co) or nitrogen dopants, amplify electron transfer kinetics and catalytic activity, achieving sub-nanomolar detection limits. Synergies between doping and advanced functionalization—via aptamers (Apt), molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), or metal-oxide hybrids—impart exceptional selectivity, enabling the precise discrimination of Trp and Tryp in complex matrices like saliva. Mechanistically, redox reactions at the indole ring are optimized through tailored electrode interfaces, which enhance reaction kinetics and stability over repeated cycles. Translational strides include 3D-printed microfluidics and wearable sensors for continuous intraoral health surveillance, demonstrating clinical utility in detecting elevated Trp levels in OSCC and breast cancer. These platforms align with point-of-care (POC) needs through rapid response times, minimal fouling, and compatibility with scalable fabrication. However, challenges persist in standardizing saliva collection, mitigating matrix interference, and validating biomarkers across diverse populations. Emerging solutions, such as AI-driven analytics and antifouling coatings, coupled with interdisciplinary efforts to refine device integration and manufacturing, are critical to bridging these gaps. By harmonizing material innovation with clinical insights, electrochemical sensors promise to revolutionize precision medicine, offering cost-effective, real-time diagnostics for both localized oral pathologies and systemic diseases. As the field advances, addressing stability and scalability barriers will unlock the full potential of these technologies, transforming them into indispensable tools for early intervention and tailored therapeutic monitoring in global healthcare. Full article

Pressures applied to horses via nosebands are of growing concern. The current study applied noseband pressure to the head of a dead horse. Pressure sensors were placed on the left nasal bone to record pressures as the noseband was progressively tightened. Tightness increased as predicated by holes in the strap of the noseband (as supplied) through eight steps from two fingers’ space, assessed using the standard International Society for Equitation Science Taper Gauge through to zero space. Sensors were also placed at the midline frontal plane and intra-orally at the level of the second premolar tooth. A strain gauge integrated into the noseband recorded tensions within the noseband at each tightness level, and a digital taper gauge under the noseband recorded forces on the face. Pressures at the left nasal bone rose to 403 kPa, while those at the frontal nasal plane reached 185 kPa. Pressures rose rapidly once the noseband was tightened at the equivalent of 1.4 fingers’ space under the noseband. These findings may help to explain cases of bone and skin damage at the noseband location and indicate the need to ensure that nosebands can accommodate more than the equivalent of 1.4 fingers beneath them in the nasal midline. Given that pressures are expected to rise from those reported here when horses wear bits, locomote, and when the reins are under tension, we conclude that the traditional provision of two fingers’ space should be retained. Full article

Objectives: The present prospective study aimed to compare near-infrared light reflection (NIRI) and bitewing radiographs (BWR) images to detect proximal caries in primary teeth. Methods: 71 children underwent routine BWR, and scans were performed using an intra-oral scanner (iTero Element 5D, Align Technology, Tempe, AZ, USA), including a near-infrared light source (850 nm) and sensor. Five specialist pediatric dentists examined the NIRI and BWR images. Results: The average participant age was 7.8 years. A total of 1004 proximal surfaces of primary molars and canines were examined, 209 carious lesions were detected on BWR, and 227 on NIRI. Comparison between all carious lesions detected on BWR and NIRI: Sensitivity (53.6%); Specificity (85.5%); Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (49.3%); Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (87.5%). Comparison between carious lesions involving the DEJ detected on BWR and at any level in NIRI: Sensitivity (61%); Specificity (83.4%), PPV (36.6%); NPV (93.2%). Comparison between enamel-only carious lesions detected on BWR and all lesions detected using NIRI: Sensitivity (44.8%); Specificity (85.5%); PPV (20.7%); NPV (94.8%). Conclusions: No additional diagnostic information can be gleaned from BWR if initial caries lesions in the enamel are not detected by clinical examination or in images from a NIRI scanner, making BWR unnecessary. Full article

Salivary pH is one of the crucial biomarkers used for non-invasive diagnosis of intraoral diseases, as well as general health conditions. However, standard pH sensors are usually too bulky, expensive, and impractical for routine use outside laboratory settings. Herein, a miniature hydrogel sensor, which enables quick and simple colorimetric detection of pH level, is shown. The sensor structure was manufactured from non-toxic hydrogel ink and patterned in the form of a matrix with 5 mm × 5 mm × 1 mm individual sensing pads using a 3D printing technique (bioplotting). The authors’ ink composition, which contains sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and bromothymol blue indicator, enables repeatable and stable color response to different pH levels. The developed analysis software with an easy-to-use graphical user interface extracts the R(ed), G(reen), and B(lue) components of the color image of the hydrogel pads, and evaluates the pH value in a second. A calibration curve used for the analysis was obtained in a pH range of 3.5 to 9.0 using a laboratory pH meter as a reference. Validation of the sensor was performed on samples of artificial saliva for medical use and its mixtures with beverages of different pH values (lemon juice, coffee, black and green tea, bottled and tap water), and correct responses to acidic and alkaline solutions were observed. The matrix of square sensing pads used in this study provided multiple parallel responses for parametric tests, but the applied 3D printing method and ink composition enable easy adjustment of the shape of the sensing layer to other desired patterns and sizes. Additional mechanical tests of the hydrogel layers confirmed the relatively high quality and durability of the sensor structure. The solution presented here, comprising 3D printed hydrogel sensor pads, simple colorimetric detection, and graphical software for signal processing, opens the way to development of miniature and biocompatible diagnostic devices in the form of flexible, wearable, or intraoral sensors for prospective application in personalized medicine and point-of-care diagnosis. Full article

Scientific advances in biosensor technology are leading to the potential of wearable biosensors for salivary biomarker detection. This review aims to identify the current status of intraoral biosensor technology that can be used to monitor systemic diseases. A total of 11 studies were identified for inclusion, which included nine different devices, including modified mouthguards, retainers, toothbrushes, and dental floss. Out of the 11 studies, 8 studied continuous biomarker monitoring, and the remaining 3 were point-of-care applications. A total of seven biomarkers were studied, six of which investigated the intraoral detection of salivary glucose levels using glucose oxidase enzyme. All the sensors demonstrated excellent sensitivity (minimum R = 0.9928) and selectivity. The study designs were proof of concept, with five studies including in vivo components. We concluded that while there are established links between salivary biomarkers and systemic health, there is a lack of mature intraoral biosensor research. Refinement of biosensor design and data analysis is required to improve patient acceptability by promoting more discrete, real-time, low-cost, and wireless devices. Further research that utilises the biosensor technology in large controlled clinical trials will be required to confirm clinical applicability before intraoral biosensor technology can be integrated into routine health monitoring. Full article

Bite force measurements are crucial in the realm of biomedical research, particularly in the areas of dentistry and orthodontic care. Various intraoral devices have been used to assess biting force, but each has limitations and drawbacks. Fiber optic sensors (FOSs) offer advantages such as electrical inertness, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and high sensitivity. Distributed fiber optic sensing allows an increase in the number of sensing points and can interrogate numerous reflections from scattering events within an optical fiber. We present four dental bites with heights of 6 mm, which enabled bilateral measurements. U-shaped sensors were prepared by embedding fibers into silicone by folding a single-mode fiber into four lines and multiplexing eight parallel nanoparticle-doped fibers. Dental bite models were created using two silicone materials (Sorta Clear 18 and Sorta Clear 40). The developed sensors were calibrated by applying weights up to 900 g, resulting in a linear response. Experiments were conducted to compare the efficacy of the dental bites. The collection of massive data was enabled by constructing a 2D map of the dental bites during multi-point sensing. Full article

Pathologic tooth migration (PTM) is a complication of Stage III and IV periodontitis. This pilot study aims to analyze the periodontal response to orthodontic aligner therapy in stage IV periodontitis patients, by perio charting and digital orthodontic data obtained from intraoral scans. Following periodontal treatment of 21 recruited patients, 11 underwent clear aligner treatment. Periodontal data (Probing Pocket Depth—PPD, Recession Index—REC, Clinical Attachment Loss—CAL) were collected at baseline (T0), after periodontal treatment (T1), and at the end of the orthodontic treatment (T2). Digital data obtained at T1 and T2 were processed with the 3D software Geomagic^® Control X™. Occlusograms obtained by the proximity sensors of the scans were converted into differently colored pixelated areas. These results were compared to highlight changes in clinical crown length or occlusal contact areas. The results showed a slight increase in the REC index and a statistically significant reduction of PPD and CAL at T1 and T2. Digital data showed a statistically significant decrease in terms of gingival recessions and clinical crowns at the end of orthodontic treatment. Hard occlusal contacts showed a statistically significant decrease by the end of the orthodontic treatment. The results are comparable to those reported in the scientific literature for fixed orthodontic treatment. Clear aligner treatment could be considered an option in patients with severe periodontitis, promoting final light occlusal contacts. Full article

The intelligent tongue control system is of great significance for assisting the independent life of patients with a limb disability. In order to more accurately control the assisted living equipment of incompetent patients and solve the power-loss problem of the intelligent tongue control system, this research designs a non-invasive pressure sensor array for tongue touch signal detection in the oral cavity and proposes a tongue control system based on RSIC-V edge computing. The system converts the tongue touch pressure data into specific control instructions on the edge of the RSIC-V chip and transmits them to the receiver, thus reducing the transmission of data. This study takes control of the wheelchair motor as the test object. In the experiment, the speed response time test, the center click task, and the power consumption experiment are carried out, whose results show that the adaptive fuzzy PID control algorithm has good robustness in the system; when the DC motor with a given speed of 750 r/min reaches the steady state, its rise time is 0.108 s and the adjustment time is 0.59 s. The dynamic power consumption of the non-intrusive intraoral stand-alone tongue control system proposed in this paper is found to be 3.745 MW, which is 11.5% lower than the total power consumption of the sTD system. Full article

Technological advancements are enabling new applications within biomedical engineering. As a connection point between the outer environment and the human system, the oral cavity offers unique opportunities for sensing technologies. This paper systematically reviews the performance of measurement systems tested in the human oral cavity. Performance was defined by metrics related to accuracy and agreement estimation. A comprehensive search identifying human studies that reported on the accuracy or agreement of intraoral sensors found 85 research papers. Most of the literature (62%) was in dentistry, followed by neurology (21%), and physical medicine and rehabilitation (12%). The remaining papers were on internal medicine, obstetrics, and aerospace medicine. Most of the studies applied force or pressure sensors (32%), while optical and image sensors were applied most widely across fields. The main challenges for future adoption include the lack of large human trials, the maturity of emerging technologies (e.g., biochemical sensors), and the absence of standardization of evaluation in specific fields. New research should aim to employ robust performance metrics to evaluate their systems and incorporate real-world evidence as part of the evaluation process. Oral cavity sensors offer the potential for applications in healthcare and wellbeing, but for many technologies, more research is needed. Full article