It is in Toulouse in Haute-Garonne that Dr Matthieu Minty, dental surgeon and university lecturer, is working with a team of Inserm researchers on the innovation of a connected tooth that might make it possible to detect certain diseases in saliva. Because for researchers, saliva has a major biological interest.
« All neurodegenerative bacteriologies (…), even many oral-facial cancers have their beginnings in the saliva before being detected in the blood “. Saliva samples taken from patients are placed in an oven at 37°C for 24 to 48 hours to analyze different types of bacteria. After having identified the salivary biomarkers of several diseases, the researchers embarked on the development of a tooth equipped with a sensor implanted in the patient and connected to an analysis platform allowing the doctor to follow the evolution of the disease. . First focused on glycemic monitoring, this innovation might improve the daily lives of people with diabetes, estimated today at more than five million in France.
Awaiting funding, the researchers believe they will be able to create a prototype in the next six months with a commercialization expected in 2024.
