Determination of the facial/oral alveolar crest using RF-echograms. An in vitro study on the periodontium of pigs.

Abstract This study is a part of a research project in which we have been investigating the use of the ultrasonic pulse echo technique as a means of determining in vivo the facial/oral alveolar crest precisely and routinely. Here, RF-echograms are presented, showing the facial/oral periodontium of pigs. These echograms have been produced using a focussed 20 MHz transducer and a special design of an ultrasonic measuring and analysis system. In one series of measurements on macerated periodontia of pigs we found out that RF-echograms characteristic of a particular level of the facial/oral pericrestal aspect can be achieved. Based upon these results, we succeeded in determining exactly the hei…