Soft sensor for full dentition dynamic bite force

The measurement of bite force is important to dental care and research. Current sensors of bite force are made of hard materials, which do not conform to the irregular surfaces of teeth and constrain the movements of muscles. Here we propose a soft sensor made of a hydrogel and a dielectric elastomer. The sensor converts a mechanical force to a change in capacitance. We characterize the force under step loads at various speeds and under cyclic loads at different frequencies. We further use biocompatible materials and make arrayed sensors. The soft sensor easily conforms to the surfaces of individual teeth and captures dynamic bite forces in different regions of dentition. This work illustrates the potential of using soft sensors to collect massive data over irregular and dynamic surfaces of hard materials.