Biomedical engineering major Jon Balyeat has developed a 3D-printed device - a "mock mouth" - to show how microbial growth responds to oral treatments and implants without clinical trials. The device mimics the complex conditions inside the oral cavity. “Our culturing device aims to mimic the temperature, CO₂ levels, and geometry of a human mouth for optimal lab testing of dental treatments like implants and toothpaste, thus reducing the dependency on clinical trials, which have all sorts of logistical and ethical challenges,” Balyeat said. “It’s a powerful tool for advancing regenerative dentistry and antimicrobial testing.”
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