title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland;
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Szopinski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regulski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: dental cementum; dental pulp cavity; dentin; tooth; ultrasonography