The elderly population is constantly growing, and thus, dentists are more often facing clients suffering from age-related health disorders such as salvation and swallowing problems.
To study such conditions better, scientists need an artificial model of the human mouth that can precisely reproduce its anatomical features. Today, only a few existing samples can represent it correctly, and that's why a collaborative scientific group from the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment and Fujita Health University created a new one equipped with an elastic tongue that can mimic lifelike movements and contractions.
The biologically authentic tongue is one of the primary advantages of this system, which is made of silicon and simulates actual organ surface papillae and tissue roughness.
Scientists collected anatomical data through dental tomography scans to program the model's parts to move in a natural way. This 3D system can perform, for instance, the eating process with precise chewing and swallowing steps. The artificial mouth is equipped with various pressure and temperature scanners that allow the conduct of detailed research on how exactly different types of food physically affect the human oral cavity.
Also, this system is equipped with different cameras and LED panels that can record simulations from different angles for educational sessions and studies.
Check out other reviews of dental tech novelties:
- Novel Approach for Post-Implantation Dental Examination
- Advanced Dental 3D Printing Solution Received FDA Approvement
- Future of Intraoral Scanning: 3DISC Toolset
***images obtained from MedicalExpress
