by Clara Rodriguez Fernandez – Advanced Science News –
While we may not notice it in daily life, we rely on sensory feedback from our teeth not only to enjoy the texture of food but also to chew it with the right amount of force. With conventional implants, sensation is lost in the artificial tooth, meaning patients may use too much force when eating, causing damage to other teeth and the jaw over time.
This problem could end thanks to scientists in China, who have developed a piezoelectric tooth implant that transforms the mechanical forces of chewing into electrical signals. These signals are then sent to the brain via the tooth nerve to restore sensation.
