Telemetric Methods Using Ion-Specific Electrodes

Abstract

The use of telemetric methods for obtaining data from the human oral cavity has increased dramatically T over the last two decades. Measurement of intra-oral pH from plaque or saliva has been the most common application of ion-specific telemetry in dental research. Economics and technical problems such as durability requirements have led to wire-telemetric approaches for most clinical studies. However, limitation of subject mobility by the wire connection has led to further development of radio-telemetric methods. The use of custom-fabricated FM transmitters with ion-sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETS) has allowed for increased subject mobility during measurement of the activities of hydrogen, calcium, fluoride, and other ions of dental interest. Data can be transmitted to a small pocket receiver/recorder as digital data and later transcribed by means of a tape reader. Applications of ion-specific telemetry are described as well as possible future developments, including glucose measurement with enzyme-linked electrodes such as glucose-oxidase-coated gates on ISFETS. An intra-oral device for storage of these data within the appliance will be described. Although not yet evaluated in human subjects, this approach may eliminate the need for carrying a receiver/recorder for data collection and may have a wide variety of applications for intra-oral ion-specific measurement. Possible uses of this technology for diagnosis and therapeutics in dentistry may be limited to "special" patient populations, but it is likely to provide a wealth of information to research investigators and may suggest new therapeutic approaches toward dental diseases.