To the Bone University of Alberta faculty developing a 3D ultrasound system for the dental office In both orthodontics and periodontics, it’s useful to be able to routinely assess the height and thickness of the bone on the outside surface of teeth. Currently, the standard 3D imaging tool available to measure bone height and thickness is cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), which requires a large machine that exposes patients to radiation. “Because of the radiation, CBCT can’t be routinely used for children or for repeated imaging to monitor bone level during treatment,” says Dr. Paul Major. (L. to r.) The University of Alberta’s Dr. Lawrence Le, clinical professor, Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging; Dr. Paul Major, orthodontist, professor, and chair of the U of A School of Dentistry. Ultrasound imaging prototype developed by Drs. Major and Le. The first step was creating an ultrasound probe that was small enough to fit comfortably inside the mouth. The team created a working prototype that used ultrasound to create 2D images that showed bone and gum tissue. Eight years ago, Dr. Major and Dr. Lawrence Le, began exploring the use of ultrasound, long used in the imaging of soft tissue, to create images of bone inside the mouth, without radiation. The first step was creating an ultrasound probe that was small enough to fit comfortably inside the mouth. The team created a 14 | 2022 | Issue 6
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