Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Focused ultrasound is a therapeutic technology that could transform the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with patients suffering from dental tissue demineralization. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the body without damaging the surrounding normal tissue.
How it Works
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces several therapeutic effects that are being evaluated. One of those is the ability for focused ultrasound to clean the tissue without acids or other destructive items that can worsen the demineralization of the tissues. Recent work has also used focused ultrasound in a model that includes calcium-phosphate or hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to show an increased recovery to demineralized tissue. While significant work has been accomplished, there is still much to be done before this technology will be widely available.
The primary options for treatment of demineralization are limited, and the dentist has to weigh the benefits of using acids or other destructive items to adequately clean the tissue against the worsening effects on the mineralization of the tissue.
Advantages
For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications – such as like surgical wound healing or infection – at a lower cost. Focused ultrasound can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue, and it can be repeated, if necessary.
Clinical Trials
At the present time, there are no clinical trials recruiting patients for focused ultrasound treatment of dental tissue demineralization.
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement
Focused ultrasound treatment for dental tissue demineralization is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.
Notable Papers
Daood U, Fawzy AS. Minimally invasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) improves dentine remineralization with hydroxyapatite nanorods. Dent Mater. 2020 Mar;36(3):456-467. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2020.01.005. Epub 2020 Jan 31. PMID: 32008748
Fawzy AS, Daood U, Matinlinna JP. Potential of high-intensity focused ultrasound in resin-dentine bonding. Dent Mater. 2019 Jul;35(7):979-989. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2019.04.001. Epub 2019 Apr 16. PMID: 31003759
Click here for additional references from PubMed.
