Preliminary Clinical Study of Ultrasound to Measure Enamel Thickness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators have now established a technique to measure enamel thickness which has been shown to work well in-vitro. The teeth tested so far, obtained from the Dental School Tissue Bank, have been molars or pre-molars. In these cases, the measurement is made more difficult by the curvature of the tooth surface and it seems likely that flatter larger, incisors would give more satisfactory results. The investigators therefore wish to establish in-vivo whether this hypothesis is correct.

Detailed Description
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The aim is translate our research into a clinical hand-held dental tool that could be used to measure enamel thickness in less curvaceous anterior incisor (front) teeth, and ultimately monitor erosive tooth surface loss (TSL), which mainly occurs on anterior (front) teeth and the occlusal (top) surface of posterior (back) teeth. In this study, quantifying enamel thickness with ultrasound will provide data which will be assessed for reproducibility and to determine whether or not ultrasound is a potentially viable tool to measure and monitor acid erosion of teeth. This would allow dentists to reinforce advice to patients to reduce acidic consumption, and will motivate them to keep whatever is remaining of their 'precious' enamel tissue, which if lost, will necessitate fillings to be made. These fillings will require future repairs and possible remakes, as they have median survival rates of five years.

Official Title
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Preliminary Clinical Study of Ultrasound to Measure Enamel Thickness

Conditions
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Tooth Erosion

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Ultrasound transducer


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy adults over 18 years (females and males) with normal salivary flow. Volunteers with absence of dental caries and/or periodontal disease on the maxillary incisors (upper front teeth) to be used in the study. Volunteers should have sound maxillary incisors with no obvious cracks in the crown. Volunteers who willingly signed an informed consent. Volunteers who are willing to follow the research schedule for the period of the study. Exclusion Criteria: Volunteers with abnormal enamel on maxillary incisors assessed by visual inspection. Volunteers with replaced enamel on maxillary incisors (eg fillings, crowns, bridges). Volunteers who appear to have hypoplastic teeth as part of a syndrome, e.g. osteogenesis imperfect. Volunteers having orthodontic appliances on front teeth, or presence of fixed or removable dentures (replacing missing front teeth). Volunteers who have a complex dental history such as periodontitis, dentine sensitivity or salivary dysfunction. Volunteers who have any condition could be expected to interfere with the volunteer's safety during the study. Volunteers who demonstrate an inability to comply with study procedures. Signed informed consent not obtained by the volunteer.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: ultrasound enamel thickness measurements<br>Enamel thickness will be measured with ultrasound | Other: Ultrasound transducer<br>* A hand-held ultrasound transducer will be placed on a central incisor and enamel thickness measurements recorded<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enamel thickness reproducibility measurements | To know if ultrasound can reliably and reproducibly measure enamel thickness in-vivo | 2 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enamel thickness reproducibility measurements on separate occasions | To investigate whether ultrasound can be used to reproducibly measure enamel thickness on human incisor teeth in vivo on three separate occasions | 2 weeks (concurrent with primary outcome) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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enamel erosion, ultrasound, reproducibility, human central incisor, reliability