Former vice president of Align Technology (the Invisalign company), Amir Abolfathi, began a company called Sonitus Medical to create SoundBite, a phenomenon that returns the gift of hearing to people who are deaf in one ear.
SoundBite has two parts – a discreet over-the-ear piece, and a wireless device that fits into the mouth so that sound can be transmitted through teeth. It’s removable, and no surgery is required.
Sound collected in the deaf ear is transmitted through teeth to the hearing ear. Because the oral device doesn’t cover the biting surface of teeth, SoundBite wearers can eat and drink normally while wearing the device.
In most cases, a patient is referred to a dentist by an ear, nose, and throat doctor because the dentist must make sure that the patient has good oral health. A dental impression is also required. Each SoundBite is custom fitted to a patient’s mouth. Sonitus is awaiting FDA approval and completing testing of the device now.
Source: http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/articles/show/dlp0210_we-openwide
4 responses so far ↓
1 elegant dental // Feb 22, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Exellent device.
2 Jonathan Campbell, DDS // Feb 27, 2010 at 12:38 pm
The alternative seems to be somekind of implant placed into the skull. I wonder if a dental implant could serve a similar function so that the patient would not require a removable appliance?
3 Dentist Los Angeles // Mar 2, 2010 at 1:30 am
Exellent device and very useful one………
4 Dentist Los Angeles // Mar 3, 2010 at 5:13 am
Exellent device and very useful one………
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