Overview

• The toothbrush-like transducer combines ergonomic design with intraoral reach, allowing access to premolars and molars for comprehensive imaging.
• Operating at higher frequencies than conventional small probes, it produces detailed images of gum thickness and tooth structures below the gumline.
• Proof-of-concept studies on pig teeth showed ultrasound measurements of gum height and thickness closely matched manual periodontal probing.
• Non-invasive scans could enable earlier detection of periodontal disease and ongoing monitoring of healing after treatments such as scaling, root planing or surgery.
• Funded by the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the platform may integrate AI-driven analysis to enhance diagnostic precision and streamline clinical workflows.