Visibility of dental pulp spaces in dental ultrasound

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of dental ultrasound with conventional sonographic equipment. The teeth of three adult volunteers who had cone beam CT examinations performed previously with clinical indications and one extracted tooth were examined using linear and compact (hockey stick) sonographic probes. The sonographic images were compared with cone beam CT images reconstructed accordingly. Dental pulp spaces were demonstrated in all teeth not covered with prosthetic crowns. The dentin and pulp were best visualized at the level of the neck of the teeth. The dentin was hypoechoic, and the superficial layer comprising the cementum and the pulp spaces were hyperechoic. Dental ultrasound is feasible with general purpose sonographic machines. The buccal surfaces of all teeth are accessible with a compact (hockey stick) probe. Visualization and differentiation of dental pulp spaces, dentin and the superficial layer comprising cementum is possible in the portions of teeth not covered by the alveolar bone or prosthetic crowns. The dental pulp spaces are best seen at the level of the tooth neck. Pulp and endodontic fillings can be distinguished on ultrasound.

High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging for Examination of Early Dental Caries

“…This suggests that HFUS imaging provides information on the depth and shape of WSLs as well as cavitated carious lesions. In a previous study, the visualization of a deeper structure, such as the dental pulp, was possible by placing a dental ultrasound on human teeth (Szopinski and Regulski 2014). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to quantitatively investigate the extent of dental caries at an early stage with HFUS imaging.…”

The use of intraoral ultrasound in the characterization of minor salivary gland malignancy: report of two cases

“…5 Whilst ultrasound as an alternative to ionizing radiation in the diagnosis of caries and periodontal disease may still be in its infancy, sonographic differentiation of dental tissues has been demonstrated in the mouth, using carefully positioned compact (hockey-stick) probes. 6 Figure 3 Intraoral ultrasound, using high-frequency "hockey-stick" probe, of a swelling in the midline of the palate (Case 2). Before (a), and after (b) colour Doppler was applied (white arrows indicate the surface of the hard palate).…”

An Inventory of Current Available Ultrasound Devices for Dental Use

“…United Kingdom, Japan and Sweden). Experiments are being executed to even perform dental diagnostics with ultrasonography [22-26]. It is clear that ultrasonography is gaining more terrain and interest from manufacturers and clinicians in oral and maxillofacial diagnostics.…”