Brushing Your Teeth Yourself Is Yesterday's News: If You Want Truly Clean Teeth, Let Technology Do the Work
Modern electric toothbrushes use extremely fast bristle movements and micro-vibrations to clean teeth abrasively. Even when used correctly, however, they typically remove no more than 70 percent of dental plaque. But what if plaque, food debris, and bacteria could be removed from 99 percent of all tooth surfaces, including interdental spaces and along the gumline, virtually at the push of a button and without any manual brushing at all? That is precisely the goal of the startup “dentson”, which relies on ultrasonic cavitation technology.
Here's how it works: Ultrasound generates tiny vapor-filled bubbles in liquids. Acoustic waves carry these bubbles toward the tooth surface, where subsequent waves place them under pressure. When subjected to overpressure, the bubbles implode asymmetrically in the oral cavity, creating high-speed microjets directed at the tooth surface, much like a microscopic pressure washer. This produces intense pressure on an extremely small area, effectively removing plaque and bacteria while remaining gentle on teeth and gums. The very small number of bacteria that remain are inactivated and can no longer cause harm.
Goodbye Toothbrush
The acoustic dental cleaner developed by dentson consists of a custom mouthpiece shaped like a dental tray and a wired control unit with integrated rechargeable batteries. The batteries are charged wirelessly via induction. The system operates entirely hands-free. Users insert the mouthpiece and switch the device on, after which the technology takes over. No special instruction is required, and brushing errors are virtually eliminated. A complete cleaning cycle takes approximately four minutes. Available in two sizes (M and L), the mouthpiece is designed to provide a precise fit for virtually every dental arch. Integrated sensors within the mouthpiece can also detect plaque accumulation and early signs of tooth decay. A companion app helps users identify potential issues early on and, when appropriate, recommends a dental consultation.
With the world's first acoustic dental cleaner, the dentson team aims to make a meaningful contribution to preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease, two of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide. Statistically, almost every adult in Germany experiences tooth decay at least once during their lifetime, generating substantial healthcare costs. If tooth surfaces and interdental spaces can be cleaned more thoroughly and reliably in the future, the benefits will extend far beyond individual quality of life. All four founders of dentson are convinced their product can help reduce numerous secondary health conditions associated with poor oral hygiene.
Market Launch Planned for Q1 2027
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy recognized their potential early on and has supported the dentson team through the EXIST Transfer of Research funding program. This initiative is designed for highly research-intensive, technology-driven ventures that require substantial development efforts before commercialization. During the first funding phase, scientific findings had to be advanced to the point where technical feasibility could be demonstrated and the foundation for a future company established. That milestone has now been achieved: prototypes were developed and tested, technical feasibility was successfully demonstrated, a business model was created, and a business plan was completed. In February 2026, three young researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU and a physician from the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital Dresden founded dentson GmbH. dentson has secured patent protection filings in Europe and the United States for its proprietary cavitation-based ultrasonic dental cleaning technology. The European patent has already been granted, while the U.S. patent remains under examination.
The company is now entering the second funding phase, which focuses on refining the product for commercial readiness and preparing for market entry. The launch of the first starter systems is planned for the first quarter of 2027. Each package will include the mouthpiece, charging station, basic app, control unit, and proprietary dental gel. dentson intends to price the system below the cost of premium electric toothbrushes that use oscillating-rotating technology and micro-vibrations. Monthly consumption of the dental gel is expected to be approximately two tubes, together costing roughly the same as a single tube of high-quality toothpaste.
The Origins Date Back to 2019
Anas Ben Achour, one of the startup's two initiators, has collaborated with the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Dresden University Hospital on various research projects since 2019. The idea for an automated tooth-cleaning solution emerged from a joint project with the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health. The original objective was to develop a technology that could also be used for patients in intensive care. The dentson team is confident that, in the medium term, it will be able to offer a dedicated product tailored to this patient group as well.
The dentson Team (image 2):
Paul Schlieben, Chief Product Officer (CPO, on the far left of the image). A trained product designer, Paul is responsible for product development and prototype manufacturing. He has contributed to numerous design projects, including a series of nursing beds and an incubator for premature infants. More recently, he participated in an international research initiative developing a scoliosis brace specifically for young patients. „I want to grow personally and turn innovative ideas into projects with real social impact."
Louis Hellmund, Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Louis oversees financial planning, controlling, marketing, and supplier relations. He has already supported the successful market launch of two software products. His motivation for joining dentson stems from the team's strong social mission. "Entrepreneurship runs in our family. I want to help our startup grow while taking responsibility and shaping its future."
Anas Ben Achour, Co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO). A mechanical engineer pursuing a doctorate in experimental medicine, Anas Achour combines ten years of research experience at TU Dresden and Fraunhofer IWU with extensive manufacturing expertise. He leads production processes and oversees the company's product portfolio. “I want to drive innovations that create genuine value for people."
Dr. Tom Schröder, Co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO). Tom studied both medicine and dentistry and specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery. At dentson, he coordinates medical and biological studies while continuing to practice as a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Dresden University Hospital. "We want to improve oral hygiene for everyone, explicitly including people with disabilities who depend on support in their daily lives."
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Funding acknowledgment: The startup project dentson receives funding through the EXIST Program, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus).
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Anas Ben Achour
dentson GmbH
Gostritzer Straße 61
01217 Dresden, Germany
Phone: +49 351 871 9484
E-Mail: info@dentson.tech
Originalpublikation:
https://www.iwu.fraunhofer.de/en/press/2026-brushing-your-teeth-yourself-is-yesterdays-news_if-you-want-truly-clean-teeth-let-technology-do-the-work.html
Weitere Informationen:
https://dentson.tech/ Homepage of dentson GmbH
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