title: Accuracy of ultrasound measurement of progressive change in occlusal enamel thickness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound on measuring the thickness of enamel in abrasion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flat areas on occlusal surfaces of 20 premolar teeth were marked. Two initial ultrasonic measurements on marked areas were obtained by the first researcher. Then the tooth was measured in the axial direction with a compass. The cusp tips were abraded by an abrasive paper, then the second and third ultrasonic measurements were taken. The second researcher repeated the third ultrasonic measurement to evaluate the interobserver variation. All specimens were sectioned and the remaining enamel thickness was measured under polarized light microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pearson's correlation analysis showed a high level of intraobserver agreement for the ultrasonic measurements of the first researcher (r = .891, P < .000 initial; r = .690, P < .001 first abrasion; r = .885, P < .000 second abrasion). Third ultrasonic measurements of the first and second researchers were positively and significantly correlated with histological readings (r = .966, P < .000; r = .466, P = .039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrasonic system used in this study was reliable in measuring enamel thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Funda Oztürk
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Dilek Arslantunali
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tagtekin
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hayran
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stookey
authors.forename: Funda Caliskan
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Yanikoglu
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D015588:Observer Variation; D009811:Odontometry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography