Clinical Research Directory

Atlas of Ultrasound Imaging of the Oral Cavity: Characterization and Description of Anatomical Structures

Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive and non-ionizing technique widely used for the evaluation of soft tissues in many medical specialties. In dentistry and oral medicine, however, ultrasound remains underused compared with conventional imaging methods such as radiography, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), or magnetic resonance imaging. Recent advances in high-frequency ultrasound technology allow improved visualization of intraoral and extraoral soft tissues, including gingival tissues, mucosal structures, salivary glands, vascular structures, and inflammatory changes. Ultrasound imaging may therefore provide complementary diagnostic information in oral medicine. The purpose of this prospective observational study is to describe and characterize intraoral and extraoral anatomical structures using ultrasound imaging in order to develop a reference atlas of ultrasound images of the oral cavity. Adult patients attending a routine dental consultation at Tours University Hospital may be invited to participate. Ultrasound imaging will be performed during the clinical visit using an intraoral or extraoral ultrasound probe. The examination will last approximately 10 minutes and will not modify standard clinical care. Ultrasound images will be anonymized and collected to create a database of normal and pathological oral structures. This database will allow descriptive analysis and classification of ultrasound images and contribute to the development of educational resources and future diagnostic applications in oral medicine and dentistry.