- Visual display of real time data and images
- Automatic archiving and retrieval of patient data for tracing and comparison purposes
- Improved diagnostic information presented in a user friendly manner
- Minimal or no patient discomfort
- Mapping and recording differential measurements of periodontal structures of a dental patient
 |
| A drawing of the system |
The instrument utilizes ultrasonic sound waves interacting with the tooth structure and with the periodontal structures to map the conditions present within the periodontal pocket. In operation, the software opens a new file on the input of the patient’s name. If this is a second or later visit, the software will indicate such and give the dentist the option of opening the previous scan as an underlay for comparison. If this is a new scan, a dental chart will come up on the screen with the typical starting point tooth selected. The dentist can step to whatever point on whatever tooth he wishes on the chart and the data will be entered there. The dentist positions the tip of the hand piece on the desired point of the selected tooth and activates the instrument. The instrument identifies the selected reference point and signals the ultrasound transducer to scan the periodontal space.
The invention is intended as an acoustic anolog of the standard periodontal probe. Instead of a metal probe being inserted into the gingival margin upwards of a hundred times per patient, the acoustic probe will scan the periphery of each tooth noninvasively for the presence of abnormalities in the periodontal pocket. Only if a problem is found will more extensive procedures be necessary.