T33
Enabling anti-cavity treatments that last a lifetime
Introduction
T33 was formed to commercialize technology developed at MIT by Professor Jongyoon Han in collaboration with Professor Frederico Barbosa de Sousa from the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil. Specifically, our focus is exploiting a novel method to deliver pharmaceuticals and cosmetics deeply and rapidly into the dental enamel through electrically induced flow. Our aim is to make dental treatments faster, more effective, and more easily accessible.
Problem
Drugs and cosmetics applied to the teeth diffuse slowly and shallowly inwards due to the highly-mineralized and nanoporous structure of the outlet layer of the enamel. All current treatments require repeated and long application times to achieve continued and effective results for healthy teeth. This is why we’re told to brush our teeth twice a day and go to the dentist every six months. Because of this limitation, those who suffer the most from poor oral health are the ones who have limited access to affordable and convenient dental care. Worse oral health–discolored, decayed, broken, or missing teeth–means higher out-of-pocket payment for treatment, worse self-esteem, and discrimination.
Opportunity
We are developing a device to deliver any chemical deeply and rapidly into the dental enamel to provide faster and more effective dental treatments. Placed chairside on a dental cart or delivery system, the smart-phone sized device will generate an electrical driving force that facilitates material infiltration into the dental enamel. Separate electrical contacts on the patient’s teeth and cheek will complete an electrical circuit allowing the infiltration. This patented process is painless and imperceptible to the patient. Deeper penetration of fluoride into the teeth enabled by this device will enhance their resistance to decay–potentially allowing years of protection in only one single treatment. This will aid those who cannot or will not see the dentist regularly.