A Fundamental Study on Detecting Flaws inside the Bonding Interface between Dentin and Resin Composite by Using an Ultrasonic Phased Array System

Abstract

Ultrasonic imaging is used in many fields as a non-invasive technique and offers considerable potential in diagnosis as well as serving as a tool for research. Ultrasonic devices for examining soft tissue, particularly in the abdominal region, the brain and the eye, have been available in medical fields. The purpose of this study was to ultrasonically determine the flaws inside the resin-dentin interface by using a phased array system. A standard cavity (φ4×2mm) was prepared on the labial surfaces of bovine incisors with a diamond point. Adhesives were applied and resin composites were filled into the cavity with or without internal flaws. The phased array system used in this study was OmniScan^MX®(RD Tech); an array probe was put on the restoratives and scanning was done in AS mode. Using the phased array method, flaws existing inside the dentin-resin interface could be detected. The results of this study suggest that the phased array system could be used for analyzing qualitatively the status of the resin-dentin interface.