In-home dental plaque visualization smartphone accessory
A low-cost smartphone accessory that visualizes and quantifies dental plaque through autofluorescence. The device integrates with smartphones, using a 405 nm LED array and a custom algorithm to provide high-contrast imaging and plaque mapping, enabling daily monitoring.
Overview
The University of California, Irvine, presents an innovative in-home dental plaque visualization tool designed as a low-cost smartphone accessory. This device allows users to visualize and quantify dental plaque using autofluorescence technology. It offers a convenient and affordable alternative to traditional plaque detection methods, providing users with immediate, high-contrast plaque imaging without the mess of disclosing tablets or the expense of intraoral cameras. Leveraging a custom algorithm, the accessory maps plaque distribution and intensity, enabling users to monitor changes over time.
Technical specifications
The accessory consists of a 405 nm LED array, a rechargeable battery, a long-pass filter (>600 nm), and a 3D-printed fixture that aligns with the smartphone's camera. The violet-blue light from the LEDs excites the plaque, which emits red fluorescence captured by the phone camera. The long-pass filter ensures only the fluorescence is visible, providing a clear image. The custom algorithm, adapted from oral cancer imaging technology, processes the fluorescence signals to produce detailed plaque maps.
- Component costs: Less than $20 total
- Battery: <$6
- LEDs: <$5
- Filter: <$6
- Fixture: <$3
- Usability: Seamless smartphone integration, low training requirements
- Algorithm: Maps plaque location, distribution, and intensity
Technology readiness level
This smartphone accessory is currently at Technology Readiness Level 5, indicating that it has been validated in a relevant environment. Future validation includes developing the accessory, refining the algorithm, and testing with users at the UCI dental clinic and broader community dental clinics.
About University of California, Irvine
UC Irvine is a comprehensive public research university in the University of California system, known for large-scale research and a collaborative, cross-disciplinary culture. Industry engages through an adjacent research and technology park, an on-campus innovation hub that co-locates startups with corporate teams, and access to shared core laboratories across campus. Integration with a major academic health system provides pathways for clinical collaboration and translation. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, and DOD, alongside state and industry partnerships. A central technology transfer office streamlines IP, licensing, and startup formation.
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