A FINITE-ELEMENT STUDY OF ULTRASONIC WAVE-PROPAGATION IN A TOOTH PHANTOM

Ultrasound is used extensively in industry for the detection and chara cterization of defects in critical engineering structures. Similar tec hniques could be used in dentistry if a thorough understanding of ultr asonic wave propagation in teeth were available. This paper presents a hypothesis that finite element analysis can be used to solve the hype rbolic partial differential equation which governs ultrasonic wave pro pagation in teeth. A three-layer tooth phantom based on the geometry o f a human second molar is used to illustrate the validity of this hypo thesis. Simulated wave propagation studies are described for the tooth phantom with a gold crown layer, with an amalgam restoration insertio n, and containing a cavity. Results clearly show the finite element co de's ability to predict and visualize ultrasonic wave propagation in c omplex dental structures.