J4 · Lead research project · Riphah International University · 2024
A mouthguard that notices you grinding
A proof-of-concept occlusal splint that measures bite force and flags bruxism events, instead of only protecting against them.
- Status
- Proof of concept, not a validated diagnostic device
- Role
- Lead
- Sensors
- BHF piezoelectric modules
- MCU
- STM32 Nucleo-F103RB
Research question
Can the splint that already protects the teeth also record when, how often and how hard someone grinds?
Bruxism, the clenching and grinding of teeth, is closely associated with psychological stress, and much of it happens during sleep. The standard occlusal splint is purely passive: it absorbs the damage but records nothing, so patients and clinicians have little objective data to work with.
Sensing points
System
- BHF sensors
- Analog voltage
- STM32 Nucleo-F103RB ADC
- Thresholding
- Grinding event
The proof-of-concept used external driver modules for signal conditioning during bench testing. The intended design reads the raw sensor voltages directly with the MCU, without separate modules, for a more compact and integrated device.
Status
Sensor characterisation is complete. Work in progress covers noise filtering, real-time episode detection, and a feedback mechanism. This is a proof of concept, not a validated diagnostic device.
What I learned
Putting electronics in a mouth is a lesson in constraints: space, moisture, comfort and safety all compete with signal quality. It also reframed the project for me. The interesting problem isn’t the sensor. It’s deciding which pattern of force counts as an episode, and what a useful response would be.