The SMART Retainer is a small

micro sensor Micro may refer to: Measurement * micro- (μ), a metric prefix denoting a factor of 10−6 Places * Micro, North Carolina, town in U.S. People * DJ Micro, (born Michael Marsicano) an American trance DJ and producer * Chii Tomiya (都宮ち� ...

which is imbedded in a traditional orthodontic retainer. The sensor monitors how often the retainer is being worn, and the information is loaded onto the

orthodontist Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, and misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial ...

's computer via a reader.

Description

The micro sensor was created to help parents and orthodontists monitor retainer use after braces are removed. The smart retainer chip is about the size of a shirt button and provides detailed information about the chip's environmental surroundings. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

a smart retainer sensor is exclusively provided by orthodontists who have signed up to be providers, and should retail for around $100. The SMART Retainer was featured on the May 15 episode of ''

The Today Show ''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was ...

''.Scientific Compliance
/ref> Here is an abstract of an article in the ''American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics'':

References

{{Reflist Smart devices Orthodontics