minitooth

Minitooth is a term used in robotics, dental simulation, and speculative design to describe a small, tooth-shaped device or component. The term is not tied to a single standard object; its meaning varies by context. In dental education, a minitooth typically refers to a miniature, tooth-shaped replica used in teaching models to practice occlusion, alignment checks, or fixture testing. In robotics and soft robotics, it can denote a micro-scale actuator or gripper with a tooth-like geometry designed to interact with small parts or soft materials.

Design and materials: Minitooths are usually manufactured from resin, ceramic, or silicone composites. Sizes range from a few millimeters up to about one centimeter. Surfaces are often finished to resemble real tooth anatomy for realism or to optimize contact with antagonist surfaces. Actuation methods can include small electric motors, shape memory alloys, or electroactive polymers, paired with sensors such as load cells or micro strain gauges for force feedback.

Applications and use: In dental training, they enable safe practice with bite forces and contact patterns without patient involvement. In research, minitooths serve as test articles for micro-gripper development, bite-force sensing, or tactile feedback studies. In speculative design and fiction, they symbolize miniaturization and bio-inspired engineering.

Notes: The term is informal and context-dependent; there is no universal standard definition. See also micro-robot, dental prosthetics, haptic device.