title: A finite element study of ultrasonic wave propagation in a tooth phantom.
abstract: Ultrasound is used extensively in industry for the detection and characterization of defects in critical engineering structures. Similar techniques could be used in dentistry if a thorough understanding of ultrasonic wave propagation in teeth were available. This paper presents a hypothesis that finite element analysis can be used to solve the hyperbolic partial differential equation which governs 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 this hypothesis. Simulated wave propagation studies are described for the tooth phantom with a gold crown layer, with an amalgam restoration insertion, and containing a cavity. Results clearly show the finite element code's ability to predict and visualize ultrasonic wave propagation in complex dental structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York 11549, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ghorayeb
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003442:Crowns; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005544:Forecasting; D006047:Gold Alloys; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008963:Molar; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014070:Tooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006047:Gold Alloys; D003723:Dental Amalgam