NXTDNT

What it does

Everyday toothbrushing routines are tedious and pose a particular challenge for older people and people with limited motor skills. NXTDNT introduces a new form of tooth cleaning that enables everyone to clean their teeth independently and thoroughly.

Your inspiration

The basic form and function of toothbrushes has hardly changed for over a century. To this day, oral care is a manual and multi-step process: brushing teeth, rinsing, flossing and rinsing again. This routine is often imprecise, tedious and poses a real challenge, especially for older and disabled people. It is therefore time to rethink and develop oral care.

How it works

NXTDNT revolutionises the daily tooth cleaning routine. For the first time, microscopically small nanobots in the form of iron oxide nanoparticles are being used in the oral environment. These are controlled with the help of a gentle magnetic field and act in a swarm. They can change their shape and adapt to the individual physiology of the oral cavity. This enables them to slide between the teeth and effectively clean hard-to-reach areas in particular. The system consists of a rigid housing and a flexible bite splint. The latter consists of a hydrogel-based shape memory polymer that allows reversible deformation. On contact with saliva, the material swells and moulds to the teeth. Under the influence of electromagnetic stimuli, it is liquefied locally and releases the nanobots. The hardware is stored in a slimline case.

Design process

The project is the result of a semester project in the Industrial Design department at the Offenbach University of Art and Design. The starting point was the question of what potential can be derived from developments in the research field of nanotechnology for the healthcare sector and how it can be possible to create user acceptance for such abstract technologies. In the course of my research, I came across studies on the use of nanobots in dental cleaning. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania had succeeded for the first time in magnetically programming iron oxide nanoparticles under laboratory conditions so that they could successfully remove plaque from teeth. These results prompted me to look into the question of how the technology could be used in the oral cavity under real conditions in the future. The challenge was to find a solution that would make the technology intuitive, safe and accessible to everyone. The design focussed on ergonomic features combined with a positive and trustworthy appearance. The development process followed an iterative approach, from conceptual sketches to detailed shape analyses and the final 3D model.

How it is different

With the advent of nanotechnology, dentistry is on the brink of a revolution. In the future, microscopic nanobots and nanorobots will be used to perform treatments with high precision. The concept for NXTDNT is based on the latest research findings in this field. The design anticipates, for the first time, the conditions required for the real-world use of nanobots in the oral cavity—setting new standards in the process.

Future plans

The development of the concept depends largely on the successful further development of the technology. Firstly, it must be possible to produce the technical components on a small scale. Extensive test procedures and safety tests will then be necessary before widespread use is possible. By enabling dental care regardless of individual abilities, the concept symbolizes a future in which innovation not only creates efficiency, but also has a social impact. I will therefore drive projects like these forward.

Awards

As the project was just recently completed, it hasn't been submitted to any other award than the James Dyson Award yet.