Tooth Tattoos

New technology developed at Princeton not only may be a new fad among tattoo enthusiasts, but it can detect tooth decay, gum disease, and even AIDS or stomach ulcers.  Though I myself would not want a tattoo on my tooth I'm sure there are people out there that would not be opposed.  These tattoos are another way in which dentists could protect teeth before they begin to decay, ultimately saving the patient time and money.  -

The tattoo, which was developed at Princeton University and Tufts University, contains a sensor that measures the bacteria levels in the mouth. The sensor is made of gold, graphite and silk.  After completing the bacteria measurement in the mouth, the sensors can determine when a patient is at risk for developing gum disease. The sensors may also have the ability to predict the risk for other diseases, which is a result of studying the data from the saliva. AIDS and stomach ulcers were two of the diseases the sensor was able to determine risk for.  The tooth tattoo hasn’t been tested on people yet, however, the trials on cow teeth have yielded promising results.

Cited:

"Tooth Tattoo May Curb Gum Disease." Tooth Tattoo May Curb Gum Disease. N.p., 9 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/8262-tooth-tattoo-may-curb-gum-disease>.