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At last: A fully robotic toothbrush for disabled patients

Samba is a new robotic toothbrush for people with disabilities that cleans teeth automatically. (All images: Curaden)

Thu. 20 February 2025

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KRIENS, Switzerland: According to World Health Organization data, almost 45% of the global population has some form of oral disease. For people with a disability, that figure almost doubles. To make good oral health accessible to those with limited dexterity, Curaprox has released the Samba toothbrush. The launch of the fully robotic Samba—hailed by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2023—marks the first time that a global oral care brand has addressed the difficulty of toothbrushing for those with a disability.

A long-awaited solution

For those dealing with a physical or mental disability, effective brushing can pose a challenge. They are often forced to rely on a caregiver or family member to clean their teeth for them, or they do the brushing themselves with a subpar technique. Either option ends up compromising the oral health of these patients, exacerbated by a lack of understanding of proper brushing techniques and areas to focus on, particularly in the case of implants or orthodontic appliances. Exact numbers are difficult to come by, but according to one study, an estimated 88% of individuals with a disability suffer from dental problems. More than anything, this staggering figure reflects the need for a tailored solution.

“Disability should not interfere with oral hygiene.”

Eran Eyal, founder and CEO of DentFreak

The Israeli start-up DentFreak conceived the Samba brush specifically to tackle this health disparity. Eight years of extensive development later, manufacturer Curaprox released it to the market. “Samba was developed with the conviction that everyone deserves a healthy mouth, and that disability should not interfere with oral hygiene,” explained Samba inventor Eran Eyal, founder and CEO of DentFreak.

The brush’s innovative design means that, even without manual dexterity, people with disabilities can take care of their oral health independently. “They no longer need help,” said Swiss dentist and co-developer Dr Michael Keller. “They just need this tool and then they can look after their oral health without effort,” he explained.

Perfect cleaning, with or without disability

Samba’s secret lies in its perfect reproduction of toothbrushing with a superior technique. It makes up for the various challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, such as fatigue and compromised motor skills, which impact grip, pressure and control. Samba has a large handle that is easy to hold on to and employs brush heads that move with a dynamic brushing motion at a predetermined pressure. The bristles embrace the teeth in a U-shape and move along the teeth and gingival margin thanks to an ingenious application of mechanics. Biofilm removal is achieved by a pioneering combination of low- and high-frequency oscillations.

A major difference to regular brushing is the short time it takes Samba to clean all the teeth. It cleans fast: 30 seconds per arch. Whereas a traditional toothbrush is only able to clean one tooth surface at a time, Samba can clean 36 surfaces simultaneously. The brush features 12,900 soft bristles, mainly grouped into 17 micro-brushes, that clean every tooth surface and groove at once. The resulting deep clean is one that few patients are likely to achieve and makes the brush a game-changer for any patient, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. For those patients with a disability, however, it can be a life changer.

A breakthrough for patients and dental professionals

The Samba brush features 12,900 soft bristles and cleans teeth in an astounding 30 seconds per arch.

Samba is gaining recognition in dental practices, nursing homes and group homes for its ability to enhance oral hygiene, particularly among patients with special needs. Dr Jacob Dent, a specialist in special needs dentistry—widely known as the Special Needs Warrior—has introduced the Samba toothbrush into his practice and has seen notable results.

“As a father of an adult child with special needs and a dentist treating special needs patients of all ages, I am constantly looking for ways to improve oral health. The Samba toothbrush offers a unique opportunity to maximise self-help skills and improve efficiency with home care—care that would otherwise require direct supervision and assistance, which many of my patients don’t have adequate access to.”

Other dental professionals have also observed remarkable improvements. Aleshia Figgins, an independently practicing dental hygienist, commented: “I have a 35-year-old male patient with fetal alcohol syndrome who struggles with brushing. After using Samba, his oral health improved drastically. At his next cleaning, it was a completely different mouth—less plaque, no bleeding and no discomfort.

Samba is a valuable tool for improving oral hygiene across diverse patient populations, but for individuals with disabilities, it can make a life-changing difference. As more dental professionals integrate the Samba toothbrush into their care protocols, it has the potential to redefine oral hygiene practices for patients requiring additional support, the elderly and anyone seeking an efficient, effective cleaning solution.

More information about the Samba toothbrush can be found at prof.curaden.com.

Editorial note:

The Samba toothbrush was formerly known as CleanTeeth. The product was renamed after the brand was acquired by Curaprox in October 2023.

Visitors to the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting can learn more about Samba at Booth 2030.

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