Plaque removal effectiveness of 3D printed dental hygiene chews with various infill structures through artificial dog teeth

Pet food has recently been in the spotlight as an auxiliary approach to manage oral health, since it helps dogs or cats to take relatively simple care of their mouths at home. Especially, dental hygiene chew is crucial to remove teeth accumulation or plaque by chemical or mechanical methods. This study applied 3D printing to dental chews, which should be tailored to dogs' individual tooth structure and preferences. The optimum methods for making dental hygiene chews based on corn starch with glycerin for extrusion-based 3D printing were developed. The viscoelasticity of dental chews increased with increasing glycerin content. According to the infill level (40%, 60%, or 80%) and glycerin content, texture and plaque removal efficacy were investigated using a texture analyzer and dog dentures. A 60% infill level with 10% and 20% glycerin content had the best plaque removal efficacy in both canines and premolars. A lattice structure design with square holes was more effective for canines, whereas a crumbly texture was more effective for premolars.

Automated summary

Pet food as an auxiliary approach for oral health care has gained attention recently. A study used 3D printing technology to create personalized dental hygiene chews for dogs. The optimal methods for making these chews were developed using corn starch and glycerin. The study found that the viscoelasticity of the chews increased with higher glycerin content. Texture and plaque removal efficacy were tested with different infill levels and glycerin content, and the results showed that a 60% infill level with 10% or 20% glycerin content had the best plaque removal efficacy for both canines and premolars. A lattice structure design with square holes was more effective for canines, while a crumbly texture was more effective for premolars.