A visit to the dentist for a gum health checkup often involves the use of a pointed metal instrument to measure the small pockets between the teeth and gums. This standard technique, known as periodontal probing, can be uncomfortable and may not always detect the earliest signs of disease. Addressing this, researchers publishing in ACS Sensors have developed a toothbrush-shaped ultrasound device that offers a less invasive method for screening gum disease. In early tests on animal tissues, the new tool yielded measurements that were statistically comparable to those obtained with a traditional manual probe.

Gum disease, a common condition affecting the tissues that support the teeth, can lead to serious oral health issues if left untreated. It causes the gums to recede, forming pockets that can harbor harmful bacteria and eventually lead to tooth loss. To diagnose it, dentists rely on manual probing; however, this method has its drawbacks. To overcome these limitations, Jesse Jokerst and colleagues sought to create a noninvasive imaging method. Their solution utilizes ultrasound, a technology that works by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body. These waves reflect off internal structures, and a device called a transducer detects the returning echoes to create a real-time image.

While ultrasound is widely used in medicine, most transducers are too large to navigate the tight spaces of the mouth, especially around the back molars. Existing smaller transducers often operate at low frequencies, which limits their image quality. The team’s innovation is a miniaturized, side-facing transducer shaped like a toothbrush head. It operates at a high frequency of 40 megahertz (MHz), enabling it to produce high-resolution images. Higher frequencies provide a more detailed picture, allowing for the accurate measurement of delicate structures, such as the gums.

To test their device, the researchers used it to measure the thickness and height of gum tissue on pig jaws, a common model for human dental studies. They then compared these measurements with those obtained using a standard manual periodontal probe. The results showed a strong correlation between the two methods, confirming the accuracy of the ultrasound device. This validation suggests the new transducer is a reliable tool for assessing gum health, offering a significant improvement over the current probing technique by providing detailed images without the discomfort.

“We designed this tool to meet the realities of clinical dentistry—it is miniaturized, accurate, and easy to use,” says corresponding author Jesse Jokerst in a journal press release. “Future work will use this device with patients to image below the gumline, where we will monitor treatments and diagnose earlier to reduce dental pain and help patients keep a healthy smile.”

References

• American Chemical Society. (2025, June 7). Ultrasound toothbrush promises painless checks for hidden gum problems. Phys.Org; American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-ultrasound-toothbrush-painless-hidden-gum.html
• Khan, S., Tsai, P. Y., Qi, B., Chen, C., & Jokerst, J. V. (2025). Performance evaluation of a miniaturized, toothbrush-shaped ultrasound transducer for periodontal imaging. ACS Sensors, 10(6), 4276–4285. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c00521