Going to the dentist often means enduring an uncomfortable poke around your gums with a sharp metal tool. This process, known as periodontal probing, is used to check for gum disease.
But now, scientists have developed a much gentler alternative—a toothbrush-shaped ultrasound device that may one day replace the dreaded dental poke.
In early tests, this new tool proved to be just as accurate as the traditional method.
Gum disease is a widespread problem that affects the tissues around the teeth.
When untreated, it causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, forming deep pockets that can trap bacteria and lead to more serious dental issues.
Dentists usually check for gum disease by manually measuring the depth of these pockets using a metal probe. While this method works, it’s not always comfortable, and it may miss early signs of disease.
To find a better solution, Jesse Jokerst and his research team created a small ultrasound device that can scan teeth and gums without causing pain.
Ultrasound works by sending sound waves into the body and capturing the echoes that bounce back when they hit different surfaces. These echoes are then turned into detailed images.
While ultrasound is commonly used for imaging larger areas of the body, like during pregnancy or heart exams, the traditional machines are too bulky for use inside the mouth.
Smaller ultrasound devices do exist, but they usually produce low-frequency waves, which means the images aren’t clear enough for precise dental screening.
The new toothbrush-shaped ultrasound device solves this problem by operating at a higher frequency, allowing it to create clear images of gums and teeth—even in hard-to-reach spots like the back molars.
In tests using pig teeth, the researchers measured gum thickness and gum height with their ultrasound device and then compared the results to measurements taken using the standard metal probe. The numbers matched up closely, showing that the new device was just as reliable as the old method, but without the discomfort.
Jokerst says the team designed the device to be small, easy to use, and suitable for real dental clinics. He hopes that in the future, the tool can be used not only to spot gum disease earlier but also to monitor treatments and improve overall dental care. By making checkups less invasive and more comfortable, this technology could help more people keep their gums healthy and their smiles pain-free.
Clinical testing with actual patients is the next step. If all goes well, dentist visits might soon involve scanning instead of scraping—a welcome upgrade for anyone who dreads the metal probe.
