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The University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU +Newcastle Dental School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW +44 191 222 7332, Fax +44 191 222 8180, WWW: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/-neee Abstract -The design of an electric pressure-sensitive toothbrush, capable of measuring the forces applied to the head of the brush, through the bristle axis, during toothbrushing is described. Brushing forces are measured by a differential strain gauge cantilever bridge. Acquired data are processed through a programmable microcontroller for relay by a miniature UHF radio transmitter to a remote personal computer for graphical display. Modern microelectronic manufacturing allows the force-measuring apparatus, radio transmitter and power source to be fitted within the casing of a commerciallyavailable electric toothbrush. The graphical display is a plot of absolute force (9) with time over a 2 min brushing period. The instrument was conceived to aid dental care personnel in patient education and instruction in oral hygiene, with the particular aim of preventing tissue damage from excessive brushing pressures. Phone