Creating a handheld scanner for better dental care

Developing an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) based handheld intraoral scanner for dentistry

NIH-funded research Perceptive Technologies, INC. · NIH-11003269

This study is testing a new handheld scanner that uses special light technology to create quick and accurate 3D images of your mouth, making it easier and faster for you to get the dental care you need.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPerceptive Technologies, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11003269 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a handheld intraoral scanner using optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to improve dental care accessibility and efficiency. The scanner aims to provide quick, accurate 3D imaging of patients' oral health, helping both patients and insurers understand the need for dental treatments. By reducing the time and cost associated with dental visits, this innovation seeks to encourage more individuals to seek necessary dental care and accept treatment plans. The approach is designed to be user-friendly and comparable to existing dental scanning technologies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals seeking dental care who may have previously avoided treatment due to cost or time constraints.

Not a fit: Patients who have no interest in dental care or those with severe dental conditions requiring immediate intervention may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could make dental care more affordable and accessible, leading to better oral health outcomes for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches using advanced imaging technologies in dentistry have shown promise, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.