Expertly curated microbes, developed to prevent disease.
Our technology is the result of six years of federally funded research studying the people who have perfect oral health. We discovered that these people have unique sets of bacteria - microbiomes - that can prevent dental decay and other diseases. So, we developed and patented a new technology that allows us to get bacteria from ultra-healthy donors into the mouth’s of people who need them.
Introducing the Oral Microbiome Transplant - the OMT. We collect good bacteria from ultra-healthy donors. We study, grow, and test these good bacteria in the lab using an artificial mouth. We make sure their safe, effective, and curated just for you. The microbes are then mixed in a gel that can be painted on the teeth. Imagine your teeth being cleaned at your dentist office and then good bacteria being placed on your teeth to replace your bad bacteria.
Our team used its over 65 years of shared research and dental expertise to develop an easy-to-use, safe, effective product that works to stop disease before it starts. Our technology was recently covered by the Wall Street Journal as part of the Future of Dental Health.
Want to learn more? Listen to our Founder and CEO, Dr. Laura Weyrich, talk about the technology here.
FAQs
What is an microbiome?
A microbiome is a collection of very tiny living things that live together in different parts of your body. This can include bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, protists, and parasites. Each collection is different in different areas of the mouth. Each person also their own microbiome that is specific to their genetics, environment, diet, and hygiene.
What causes dental cavities?
Dental decay, cavities, or caries - no matter what you call it - is a complex disease related to your ancestry, diet, environment, and importantly, your bacteria. Bacteria living on the tooth surface eat sugar and then produce acid, chewing holes in the surface of your teeth. To learn more about how these bacteria cause disease, read here.
What is an Oral Microbiome Transplant, or OMT?
An OMT uses healthy bacteria collected from ultra health people - folks who never go to the dentist, rarely brush their teeth, and eat sugar, yet have perfect oral health - to displace bad bacteria in the mouth. These healthy microbes work together to push out bad bacteria and create a protective layer to keep them from coming back. To learn more about how we developed OMTs, read here.
What is an artificial mouth?
We 3D printed a ‘flow cell’ that mimics the mouth in nearly every way. It has tooth enamel and pumps through lab-created human saliva at rates that mimic the mouth. To learn more about our artificial mouth, check out our peer reviewed paper here.
Can this technology help people have limited access to dental care?
We strongly believe our technology may be an effective solution to prevent oral disease in people with limited access to dental care. Can’t get to a dentist? Perhaps an OMT can provide protection until you can see one again. Part of the Microversal LLC mission is to ensure that this technology gets into the hands of rural populations and undeserved communities. Read about our company’s ethics here.
When will this technology be available near me?
We are working hard to get this technology into a clinic near you. We completed our animal trials (safety is really important!) and are currently raising funds for human clinical trials. If you’re interested in being part of this work, please contact us here.