Termograficzna diagnostyka stanu dziąseł

W artykule przedstawiono zagadnienie dotyczące wykorzystania kamer termowizyjnych do bezinwazyjnych badań stomatologicznych. Badania wstępne przeprowadzono dla kilku osób, dokonując pomiarów rozkładu promieniowania temperaturowego w obrębie dziąsła. Analiza wyników badań wykazała zmiany przepływu krwi w dziąśle, co oznacza, iż badania te mogą być pomocne w monitorowaniu przejściowych procesów zapalnych dziąseł. Ważnym zagadnieniem jest jednak dobór odpowiedniej metodyki przeprowadzania tych pomiarów.

One of the modern methods used in medicine are thermographic research. Since periodontal tissues are among the most vascularized in the human body, the use of a high-sensitivity thermal imaging camera would allow non-invasive assessment and early detection of pathological changes in the gum [2, 3]. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes within the gums during orthodontic treatment using thermography research. The examination covered several generally healthy people aged 10-13 years, who were undergoing orthodontic treatment. Thermographic research concerned the incisors of the upper dental arch with clinically healthy periodontium. A cooled, high sensitivity thermal camera FLIR X6580sc was used for investigations. Based on the performed research and analysis of the results, it can be concluded that in the case of measurements taken after about 5 minutes from the initial test there cannot be observed any changes in the average temperature. However, these changes are visible after about 20 minutes after the application of orthodontic forces. Namely, the observed increase in the average temperature was about 1,5 C, which indicated the hemodynamic changes within the gums. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the thermographic research may be helpful in monitoring the transition of inflammatory processes through the gum in the treatment with permanent braces. However, the selection of an appropriate methodology for conducting these measurements is a very important issue.