A toothbrush-shaped ultrasound transducer can provide a less invasive screening for gum disease. In proof-of-concept demonstrations on animal tissues, the device produced measurements similar to those of a manual probe.
The small, noninvasive ultrasound method capable of imaging teeth and gums — even hard-to-reach molars and premolars at the back of the mouth. It operates at a higher frequency and can produce high-quality images of teeth and gums.
To test the transducer’s accuracy, the researchers used the new instrument to measure the gum thickness and gum height of pig teeth. Then the researchers repeated the measurements using a manual metal periodontal probe. After analyzing the correlation between the two sets of measurements, the team found that the ultrasound measurements were statistically similar to those of the manual technique.
The results support the reliability of the toothbrush-shaped transducer as a less-invasive technique for monitoring gum health. Future work will use this device with patients to image below the gumline, where the researchers will monitor treatments and diagnose them earlier to reduce dental pain. (Image credit: ACS Sensors)
For more information, visit here .
