DENTAL ULTRASOUND- A REDEFINED MODALITY AS DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC AID: REVIEW

Background:Dentistry is about appropriate diagnosis and effective management. Diagnosis and management can be done through various ways. The most important diagnostic aid in dental evaluation include imaging through X-rays, cone beam computed tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Purpose:Evaluate the diagnostic significance of ultrasound in dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery MetodsUpon doing an search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Schola 62, published were found. 38 of the chosen articles met the requirements for a analysis when inclusion and exclusion were applied Results:Ultrasound is a form of real time imaging technique which acts as therapeutic as well as diagnostic aid in dental and medical field. Conventional radiography has certain disadvantages such as cost, radiation etc.These drawbacks of convetional radiography can overcomed by ultrasounds in dentistry. Also, to shift from radiating to non-radiating imaging and repeated imaging have demanded for ultrasonography in dental filed.The main advantages of ultrasound include non-ionizing radiation, portability possibility of repeated examinations and is economical. Though therapeutic ultrasound in dentistry is still in infancy, its use in treating myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome,temporomandibular joint disorders, sialolitotripsy, descaling, endodontic procedures, ultrasonic cleaning of dentures and in periodontal regeneration techniques are being employed. Standardization of intensities, frequencies, time period of ultrasounds should be standardized to ensure maximum beneficial effects. Conclusion:Use of ultrasound in dentistry is gradually increasing and will gain even more space if proper research is encouraged. Clinicians should be aware of the advantages of ultrasound in dentistry which include non-invasive, non-ionizing, painless, accurate, patient friendly, which makes it easy as well as interesting. To improve and increase the utilization of ultrasound in dentistry, further studies should be conducted with the goal of achieving better diagnostic and therapeutic aids.