BelSU’s New Sensor Tool Promises Safer, Smarter Cement Choice in Dentistry

Up to 55% of complications from dental prosthetics are caused by poorly chosen luting cements. Now, researchers at Belgorod State University have developed a rapid, painless method that could change that – by letting a patient’s own tissues guide the choice of material.

The innovation is the result of a collaboration between BelSU and the VladMiVa experimental plant, led by Professor Irina Ryzhova of the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry. The team included Vladimir Chuev, Head of the Department of Medical and Technical Systems; Valentin Chuev, Associate Professor of the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry; practising dentist Alexandra Chueva; and Valeria Maksimova, Assistant Professor of the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry.

The heart of the technique is a unique sensory diagnostic that measures the physiological response of periodontal tissues – the gums and structures supporting the teeth – in real time. A small sample of the luting cement is applied to the tissue, and a handheld device called the BioScan piezoelectric resonance sensor captures the spectrum of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted before and after contact. A computer programme then analyses the changes and assigns a score on a specially developed scale, giving the dentist an immediate, objective picture of how well the patient’s body accepts that particular cement.

“Traditional selection of luting cements relies on general recommendations and the doctor’s experience. Our method replaces guesswork with a direct, individual tissue response,” explained Professor Ryzhova.

The approach delivers several practical advantages: it is fast, non-invasive, and completely painless. Diagnosis takes minutes, requires no complex preparation, and produces digital indicators that eliminate subjective judgement. The result is a truly personalised selection that minimises the risk of inflammatory reactions and other complications.

The method was put to the test from September 2024 to May 2025 at the Interregional Centre for Dental Innovations at BelSU and the Russian Railways Medicine Clinic in Belgorod. A total of 1,262 volunteers participated, and the data were analysed by specialists in the Department of Orthopaedic Dentistry at BelSU’s Institute of Medicine. The findings confirmed the technique’s high efficacy and reliability.

A Russian patent (No. 2859640) now protects the development, and more than 50 patients have already been treated using the method in Belgorod dental clinics.

“Obtaining a patent is an important milestone in a new field of dental diagnostics. It is especially valuable that this technology allows us to assess the tissue response of a specific patient and make material selection more personalised, safe, and scientifically sound. Sensor technologies are opening up new possibilities for understanding the dialogue between materials and living tissue – and for creating more precise, personalised dentistry in the future,” Professor Ryzhova said.

The team plans to continue its research into sensory diagnostics and the biocompatibility of dental materials.