Many Australian patients have problems making their dentures stick to their mouths. Prosthetic teeth falling out at inopportune moments are embarrassing, inconvenient, and annoying. Adhesives or denture cements aren’t an effective strategy—users claim they’re unsanitary, unpleasant, and adversely affect their palates and nutrition.
Fortunately, scientists have discovered a game-changing innovation known as octopus dentures. These prosthetic teeth mimic the suction cups of octopus tentacles and ensure that the dentures latch onto the mouth securely.
This blog will delve deeper into octopus dentures and their unique advantages, empowering dental patients to take control of their daily lives and minimise inconveniences.
Octopus-Inspired Dental Innovation
Scientists from King’s College London (KCL) discovered octopus dentures in November 2024. The KCL Faculty of Dentistry, Oral, and Craniofacial Sciences staff experimented with how their new dentures can mimic an octopus’ suction cups latching onto slippery marine surfaces.
These tentacled creatures’ suction cups create a negative pressure vacuum that helps them attach to rocks and other underwater objects.
Inspired by this phenomenon, the scientists moulded the denture cups into a conventional prescription using soft silicone and rubber, creating small, built-in suction cups with customised, soft-tissue contact portions that fit the patient’s gum profile and stability preferences.
Octopus dentures are a promising breakthrough that offers significant relief to thousands of patients who have dealt with improperly fitted dentures, which can be a daily nuisance. This ambitious, noninvasive dental advancement will change the course of oral prosthetics in 2025 and beyond, providing comfort and reassurance to those who have struggled with conventional dentures.
3D-Printed Prosthetic Teeth
The KCL staff theorised that they could incorporate the features of octopus tentacles into dentures, allowing the prosthetic teeth to latch securely onto the mouth’s soft mucosa. To achieve this objective, they seamlessly integrated suction cups into 3D-printed dentures.
Subsequent studies revealed that octopus dentures’ have twice the retention properties of conventional prosthetic teeth without the nagging discomfort. The former’s ample strength allows users to enjoy the benefits of natural teeth, easily remove them at their convenience, and empower them to take control of their dental health.
King’s College London lead author Dr Sherif Elsharkawy wanted to improve the experience of denture users. Marine-inspired octopus prosthetic teeth weren’t his first attempt at mimicking natural sticky surfaces. Years earlier, he noticed a peach’s furry skin latched onto his mouth’s palate after biting it. He continued experimenting with these adhesive surfaces in subsequent years until he and his staff broke through with octopus dentures.
Noninvasive Oral Prosthetic
Many factors affect denture retention. Post-tooth extraction raised gum profile deterioration is the most common, compromising denture base support and retention.
Although gum profile enhancement and/or surgical implants can rectify the situation, please remember that not all patients are suitable for this procedure.
You can determine if your dentures fit well based on the fixative used, re-application frequency, and your teeth confidence. Subsequent octopus denture modifications will help users eliminate inconveniences associated with prosthetic teeth and allow them to enjoy everyday life.
For Dr Elsharkawy and his team, octopus dentures seamlessly mesh nature and technology, significantly improving grip and comfort and users’ quality of life.
Contact Us
We are a trusted manufacturer of Gold Coast dentures that has faithfully served our clientele in Southeast Queensland over the years. Our staff’s experience and expertise ensure that you will feel secure and confident in your choice of dentures.
Please contact us to discuss your prosthetic teeth requirements. We can schedule a consultation and recommend solutions appropriate to your unique situation.