High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Dentistry: A Literature Review

• Published in: International dental journal Vol. 74; no. 5; pp. 1168 - 1173
• Main Authors: Tran, Minh Dien, Ngo, Hien, Fawzy, Amr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biofilm removal destruction; Dentine remineralisation; Dentistry; Drug delivery; HIFU; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation - methods; Humans; Peri-implantitis; Smear layer removal; Succinct Rapid Communication; Tooth Remineralization - methods; HIFU; Peri-implantitis; Drug delivery; Dentine remineralisation; Biofilm removal destruction; Smear layer removal
• ISSN: 0020-6539; 1875-595X; 1875-595X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.02.004

Although high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been applied widely in medicine, utilising its non-invasive dual ablation and thermal coagulation properties, its application in dentistry has primarily remained in the research phase, predominantly in in vitro studies. Nonetheless, there has been a consistent increase in the number of publications on this subject in recent decades, focusing on areas such as remineralisation of dentine surfaces, removal of smear layers, drug delivery, and microbial elimination. The number of advantages HIFU can offer, such as its non-surgical nature, absence of ionising radiation, lack of residue, and absence of aerosols, is driving this upward trend, indicating the potential for HIFU in clinical dentistry and ongoing efforts towards developing HIFU-based devices for routine dental use. This succinct review aims to outline the historical context, operational mechanisms of HIFU, summarise recent dental research, and provide a forward-looking perspective on the role of HIFU in modern clinical dentistry.