Teeth-cleaning robots, red-light therapy: What’s ahead for dental health

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Imagine a world where you could regenerate a missing tooth with a single drug, and microrobots clean your teeth every night. That future is getting closer, scientists say.

“We are really looking for disruptive technology," says Dr. Hyun (Michel) Koo, co-founding director of the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Here, brush up on the latest discoveries that could transform your oral health.

A swarm of microrobots could clean your teeth for you. It is a three-in-one solution, says Koo. In an automated system, the swarm acts as a toothbrush, flosser and mouthwash.

Koo and Edward Steager, a senior research investigator at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, have led development of the microrobot technology, which uses tiny particles known as nanoparticles—in this case from iron-oxide compounds. These nanoparticles are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for uses ranging from imaging to food coloring, thanks to their ability to take on a red, yellow or brown shade. “You can eat them," Koo says.

These particles can also come together to form a microrobot, a small device that can complete a complex task. Magnets guide the microrobot swarms to form different shapes, from bristles for brushing to an elongated thread for flossing. With a push of a button, the oral routine is automated by programming when and where these magnets turn on.

There are two prototypes: a mouthguard-like device and a toothbrush-like device. You turn on the magnets and inject a solution containing the microrobots and hydrogen peroxide, a common cleaning agent. The microrobots act like a disinfecting mouthwash when combined with