ASSESSMENT OF TOOTH STRUCTURE USING LASER BASED ULTRASONICS

摘要

A means of assessing the internal structure of teeth based upon use of high frequency, highly localized ultrasound (acoustic waves) generated by a short laser pulse is presented. In contrast to traditional contact transducer methods, laser-generated ultrasound is non-contact and non-destructive in nature and requires no special tooth surface preparation. Optical interferometric detection of ultrasound provides a complementary non-destructive, non-contact means for obtaining data with a very small detection footprint. The combination of laser-generated ultrasound and optical interferometric detection allows for in-vivo diagnostics of tooth health that is sensitive to the enamel/dentin, dentin/pulp, and dentin/cementum interfaces as well as a region of dead tracts in the dentin within a tooth.