A US biomedical engineering major has designed a mock human mouth—a device that mimics the complex conditions inside the oral cavity—to help researchers evaluate antimicrobial agents, implants, and regenerative therapies in the lab.
“Our culturing device aims to mimic the temperature, CO₂ levels, and geometry of a human mouth for optimal lab testing of dental treatments like implants and toothpaste, thus reducing the dependency on clinical trials, which have all sorts of logistical and ethical challenges,” Jon Balyeat at the University of Connecticut said.
“It’s a powerful tool for advancing regenerative dentistry and antimicrobial testing.”
Balyeat and his advisor first designed the chamber and jaw assembly in computer-aided design. Next, they used a 3D printer to create the device using a biodegradable and biocompatible plastic called polylactic acid (PLA).
PLA is made from renewable plant sources and softens when heated and hardens when cools, making it an ideal material for modelling. Some PLA teeth inside the device can be detached for individual, site-specific studies.
The device includes a removable well plate for high-throughput testing, an embedded heat sensor for closed loop temperature control and gas composition, and an integrated heater and air-pump. The unit and all electrical components will be placed inside an incubator.
To begin testing, researchers will colonise the mouth with naturally occurring oral bacteria Lactobacillus casei or Streptococcus mutans to study how microbial growth responds to different fluoride gradients and materials. They will also test how stem cell implants, calcium phosphate ‘doped’ 3-D printed teeth, and even tissue-mimicking spinach leaves behave inside his mock mouth device.
“We want to know whether they survive, grow, or respond to things like temperature, pH, or bacteria,” Balyeat said.
“It’s part of a broader effort to develop regenerative dental treatments that could one day restore natural tooth function.”
