Approximately 3 million Americans receive dental implant procedures annually. Unlike natural teeth, implants do not form a seamless seal with the surrounding gum tissue, posing a potential risk of infection. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are working to develop a new implant that mitigates this concern via a twofold defense.

The first defense involves creating the crown to include antimicrobial compounds, currently barium titanate, to effectively combat bacterial growth.

The second line of defense entails embedding light-emitting diodes (LEDs) onto the base of the crown to deliver immune-boosting, red-light therapy to the surrounding gum area. To eliminate the need for a battery, the implant generates its own electricity via the crown’s specialized material, such as the barium titanate, which converts motion—such as chewing—to electrical energy. Although barium titanate is not as strong as the materials currently used for implants, the research team is working on enhancing its properties. The product will be tested in pigs in 2025, paving the way for human trials.