journal article·2026-06Open access

An Implanted Tooth That Can Feel

Yaru Cao, Zhenhua Wu, Jiwei Sun, Ke Song, Jiayi Li, Yujin Li, Wenqi Chen, Hanyu Li, Shue Li, Cheng Yang, Silin Liu, Yunyun Han, Bin Su, Yumei Ding

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 32

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diverse material species, ranging from gold to ceramic, have been selected to construct dental implants in the past decades. However, existing implants are primarily designed to restore masticatory function yet fail to completely recover the sensory feedback of natural teeth. Deprivation of sensory inputs impairs the perception of food texture and hinders the regulation of chewing force. This defect could result in unnecessary overload, leading to technical complications and biological failures, such as bone loss and temporomandibular joint damage, which remarkably limit their clinical outcomes. To endow the implanted tooth with masticatory perception, herein we demonstrate a 3D‐printed piezoelectric‐core/robust‐sheath implanted tooth can rebuild the sensing feedback, serving as “mechanoreceptors” in converting mechanical chewing force to electrical signals, and up to brain through surrounding alveolar nerves. Working mechanism for the piezoelectric tooth has been revealed by real‐time tracing of neurological activities in the mouse brain in response to simulating occlusal stimulus. Furthermore, more than 90% patients in clinical cases subjectively admitted the rebuilding of their masticatory perception after being implanted the piezoelectric tooth. These findings substantially advance the field of smart implants and herald a promising avenue for medical engineering aimed at enhancing the multi‐functionality of implants in their applications.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Tactile and Sensory Interactions · Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration Wuhan P. R. China

Department of Stomatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P. R. China

Department of Stomatology Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University Mongolia P. R. China

Funding

Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province

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