Dental Ultrasonography for Visualizing Osteoimmune Conditions and Assessing Jaw Bone Density: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of ultrasonography (US) in medical diagnostics, there is no similar US device available for visualizing jawbone density. This study is a narrative review of the possible applications of US in dentistry. This review is divided as follows: (a) Pulse-echo ultrasonography: the applications offer new perspectives for periodontal and peri-implant assessment. (b) Through-transmission alveolar US (TTAU): this technique was a novel imaging modality until 2004, when TTAU devices were last available. Quantitative US scaling made the device useful for diagnosing chronic inflammatory conditions in the jaw. (c) Ultrasound transmission velocity (UTV): in 2008, this technique was introduced in German university dental clinics to analyze the mechanical properties of the jawbone without translating the scientific findings into a practical device. (d) Trans-alveolar US device (TAU): the growing importance of "osteoimmune focal bone marrow defects" has led practitioners to develop a new TAU device. The attenuation of US was used for imaging of jawbone density. (e) Patients who benefit from TAU-guided jawbone surgery: research has shown remarkable results in specific disease cases. This review concludes that US has been undervalued as a diagnostic tool in dentistry. The new TAU-n unit offers the opportunity to change this in the future.