Ultrasonic imaging of teeth for early detection of abscesses

Ultrasound imaging has been used widely for general medical diagnostics and in industry for the nondestructive detection and characterization of defects in critical engineering components. However, the lack of understanding of the fundamental wave propagation phenomena in teeth has largely precluded its application to dentistry. This paper describes how finite element (FEM) analysis can be used to study ultrasonic wave propagation in teeth. A three-layer tooth phantom based on the geometry of a human second molar is used to illustrate the validity of the tooth model. Results clearly indicate the finite element code's ability to predict and visualize ultrasonic wave propagation and interaction with dental anomalies, such as pulpitis, and that such results could be used to realize the design of appropriate transducers and equipment for dentistry applications.