Toothscan is a smart scanner to monitor your dental health

We rarely hear people describing a trip to the dentist with a positive, enthusiastic tone. However a new device has just hit Indiegogo promising to change this as it aims to take over the dentists’ jobs and reduce visits by keeping track of the health of your teeth for you. All you need to monitor your dental health is the Toothscan device and your smartphone.

Toothscan

Toothscan is shaped like a regular toothbrush and designed to be used by both dentists and the general public. Instead of bristles at the head, the smart device works by sending out a pulse of light which bounces off the enamel in your teeth, and in turn, relays information back to the scanner. The data collected is then passed on to the accompanying app on your smartphone or PC via Bluetooth which evaluates the health of your teeth.

The analysis and results are provided through spectroscopy, the process of evaluating the different colours in a beam of light to determine certain information. “When a light beam reflects from a healthy tooth, it has a distinct spectrum. When the beam reflects from a problematic area, there will be a spectrum deviation,” the Toothscan video said.

Toothscan App

Toothscan is touted as an early detection tool for dental problems, helping users to avoid expensive treatment bills in addition to increase collaboration and information sharing between patient and the dentist, giving users better control over their own health. With the device, users will be able to detect changes in their enamel before they are visually apparent, and it also reminds them to give neglected teeth more attention during brushing and cleaning.

The creators promise five days of battery life with one charge, and an early-bird Toothscan could be bought from the campaign for $149 plus $25 in shipping which is available worldwide, converting to a total of around GBP £110. The device is expected to begin shipping in November 2015.