Glass Model and Bolus Simulator

Food comes in many physical forms, some of which are readily trapped inside pits and fissures under chewing pressure. Sugar and starch in food is readily changed to acid by resident plaque bacteria if present. Every time we eat this occurs inside grooves, pits and fissures where 80% of cavities occur and the toothbrush cannot reach. In fact almost all cavities occur between teeth and inside grooves where the toothbrush cannot reach.

Soft food such as ice cream, like toothpaste even if masticated, are not trapped in grooves but can be forced inside pits and fissures when consumed with suitable fibre like dental foam (a strip of soft foam that removes plaque and food from gum margins like a brush, from between teeth like dental floss and from inside pits and fissures undr chewing pressure) The strip of foam has outer open cup shaped cells that fill with a saliva mix that is forced inside pits and fissures under chewing pressure.

A simple glass model is easy to make and use in school, home or science works experiments. It gives a reasonably accurate replication of the bolus/pit and fissure environment when chewing food.

At the top are glass cells of the simulator containing strips of foam to the right. You also see strips of glass that make up the simulator

The glass model of a groove made by clamping two trips of glass together with a thin V shaped teflon gasket open at each end. On the right is a packof Toothpase tablets that add flavour and help cleaning and fresh breath etc.with the dental foam.

The model played a major roll in the development of a chewy toothpaste tablet or confection that seals pits and fissures when conveniently consumed before eating, preventing acid attack in much the same way as sealants applied by the dentist.

A similar chewy toothpaste tablet helps disperse trapped food after eating especially when used with the dental foam which helps saliva neutralize acid and repair demineralised tooth.

Glass Model Experiment using 1. Food dye and foam. 2. Chocolate. 3. Toothbrush. 4. Toothpaste tablets .

1. Push model into food dye with chewy dental foam to fill glass model
2. Chocolate fills glass model and displaces food dye
3. Toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste and chewing gum have little or no effect.
4. Toothpaste tablet formula displaces chocolate when used with a chewy dental foam strip.
5. Toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste and chewing gum have little or no effect.
6. Water and foam removes toothpaste tablet and chocolate over time.

Many foods have little or no effect; others tend to displace current trapped foods.
Dental foam and celery and water or food dye removes chocolate or toothpaste but takes a longer time.

The Glass Model helps develop foods and snacks like modified cheese or dental agents to consume before eating to provide a temporary barrier or fissure sealant to prevent acid attack while eating. Also Special toothpaste tablets help remove food after eating.

It is also possible to place a mineral matrix of nuclei for mineralisation of fissures or small cavities.