Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Focused ultrasound is a rapidly evolving, noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients in need of dental bonding or other periodontal procedures. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue. This technique can avoid the use of acids or other harsh chemicals that are required in conventional therapy to clean the components of the repair. These components can adversely impact the dentin collagen fibrils, resulting in a weakened state which is more likely to fail in the future. The use of focused ultrasound avoids these issues, resulting in a stronger and potentially longer lasting result. The use of this approach can to help with a wide variety of periodontal procedures, including treating dental caries, bridges, crowns, implants, root canals, bone/gum disease and trauma.
How it Works
There are a number of ways that focused ultrasound can be helpful in dental/periodontal procedures. One common way is that where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue) which removes the “smear layer” on the surface of the tooth resulting in a better texture for adhesion to occur. This could enable dental bonding to occur without the need for acid products that are currently in use. This type of periodontal work can take many forms, with the common need for strong hydrophobic bonding which results in a more effective adhesion and therefore greater durability. Additional mechanisms are also in use, and the non-invasive, chemical free basis for focused ultrasound is an important consideration.
Advantages
- Does not require the use of acids
- Does not require the creation of grooves or other items to enhance bonding
- May result in a longer lasting treatment
- It is repeatable
Clinical Trials
There is a clinical trial in Egypt using focused ultrasound for patient care when doing implant procedures.
There is a clinical trial in Egypt using focused ultrasound for patient care with doing orthodontic procedures. It is enrolling only by invitation.
There is a clinical trial in Egypt using focused ultrasound in patients with maxillary canine retraction.
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement
Focused ultrasound treatment for dental bonding is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.
Notable Papers
Daood U, Aati S, Akram Z, Yee J, Yong C, Parolia A, Lin Seow L, Fawzy AS. Characterization of multiscale interactions between high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and tooth dentin: the effect on matrix-metalloproteinases, bacterial biofilms and biological properties. Biomater Sci. 2021 Jun 30. doi: 10.1039/d1bm00555c.
Daood U, Fawzy AS. Minimally invasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) improves dentine remineralization with hydroxyapatite nanorods. Dent Mater. 2020 Jan 30. pii: S0109-5641(20)30005-1. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2020.01.005.
Fawzy AS, Daood U, Matinlinna JP.Potential of high-intensity focused ultrasound in resin-dentine bonding. Dent Mater. 2019 Apr 16. pii: S0109-5641(18)31394-0. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2019.04.001.
Daood U, Fawzy AS. Macrophage response and surface analysis of dental cementum after treatment with high intensity focused ultrasound. Arch Oral Biol. 2019 Feb;98:195-203. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2018.10.019. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
Click here for additional references from PubMed.
