Development and fundamental experiments of occlusal sound detecting device using soft suction cups

For healthy chewing, well equilibrated occlusion is necessary to minimize unexpected overloading of the tooth. However, the current occlusal examination depends on techniques, skills and sense of doctors. In this research, we are focusing on that occlusal condition is related to sound from teeth, and have developed a novel occlusal checking system detecting the sound. The system is configured with multiple sound detecting devices. Each device consists of a soft suction cup and a miniature microphone. The suction cup can be adhered on a tooth by applying negative pressure through a tube, and the microphone is inserted into the tube. Therefore when a patient bites, generated sound from the target tooth can be detected by the microphone. First, we have found out the relationship between adhesion force and applied negative pressure to the suction cup, and decided optimum value of negative pressure. Then, by using two devices, we have conducted experiments of detecting occlusal sound using a jaw model for confirming the potential of this system. Furthermore, we carried out the experiments in the oral cavity, and we succeeded in detecting sounds from tooth by using fabricated devices.