Detecting Gum Disease with a Tooth Tattoo?

US scientists recently announced they have created a tooth ‘tattoo’ made of gold, graphite, and silk that is supposed to aid in both the detection and measurement of bacteria within the oral cavity.[1] Led by a Princeton nanoscientist, and a team of Tufts bioengineers, the tattoo acts like a sensor that gives a 24-hour panoramic view of what’s going on inside the mouth. Made of a three-tiered strip, it’s applied directly to the tooth by a strand of silk, which eventually dissolves and becomes wirelessly powered with the sensor stuck in place. They hope someday it will also detect other diseases with recent advancements in salivary diagnostics…[MORE INFO]