For the first time, tiny ‘suction cups’ have been designed into 3D printed dentures, helping them stay in place. The research could help the 11% of the UK population who wear dentures and the 350 million people worldwide who have no natural teeth at all.
Dentures remain the most common treatment for people who lose teeth, particularly with age. Other options include dental implants, but these are expensive and not always available to people.
Many denture wearers will know the challenge of keeping dentures in place – known as ‘retention’. People often depend on supermarket denture adhesive, which is used to glue dentures back in place, but this option is unhealthy and unpopular with users.
To improve the situation, an interdisciplinary team of scientists at King’s College London investigated how they could replicate the same process that allows octopuses to stick to slippery surfaces in dentistry. Octopuses have “suction cups” on their tentacles that create negative pressure and vacuum, creating strong suction to attach them to rocks.
The team theorized that similar beads could be added to dentures, allowing them to attach to the soft lining of the mouth. They designed 3D printed models using computer-aided design (CAD) of upper and lower dentures.
When the models were analyzed, they showed more retention than standard dentures – though, thankfully, not so strong that users couldn’t completely remove them from their mouths. The models had twice the retention rate of regular dentures.
The scientists, from King’s Faculty of Dentistry, Oral, and Craniofacial Sciences, then investigated how the chemical changes could be used to help fix dentures in place. With dentures made of plastic, they showed how covering them with a thin coating of keratin – the same protein found in skin and hair – forms a chemical bond with the keratin of the skin in the mouth (mucosa). This further aids in retention and is also invisible to the eye – it does not affect the appearance of the denture.
Lead author Dr Sherif Elsharkawy, King’s College London, said: “Having worked with denture wearers, who I see frequently in the clinic, for several years, I really wanted to improve their experiences.
“I first had the idea of replicating sticky surfaces in nature while biting into a peach. I noticed how the furry skin stuck to the roof of my mouth and decided to investigate other sticky surfaces in nature. Octopus mocktails seemed like the perfect place to start.
“This research bridges nature and technology to address a long-standing challenge for denture wearers. Mimicking the clever adhesive strategies found in octopus suction cups, we’ve developed a prototype that offers improved grip and comfort in even the most demanding oral environments. Our findings pave the way for a new generation of dentures that can transform the quality of life for millions of people around the world.”
This project demonstrates the power of “biomimicry” in solving real-world medical challenges. It is inspiring to see how ideas from nature, combined with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, can lead to innovations that improve both functionality and patient satisfaction. Contributing to this project was an incredible opportunity to push the boundaries of dental materials science.– Dr Eda Dzinovic, Dental Materials Researcher, King’s College London
