Researchers at Sechenov University have introduced a compact device designed to detect the dental pulp during procedures, a breakthrough intended to safeguard the interior of teeth. The university’s press service shared the development with socialbites.ca.
The technique enables clinicians to determine the precise distance to the pulp, the central tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. By accurately mapping this boundary, dentists can focus treatment on the outer enamel and dentin layers during caries management, reducing unnecessary removal of healthy tooth structure.
“In caries care, preserving dental tissues is crucial, and avoiding pulp exposure during dentin removal is essential. Yet current methods for estimating dentin thickness are often cumbersome and imprecise, and many clinics rely primarily on clinician experience. Overly aggressive dentin removal can expose the pulp, risking infection and inflammation, which may require root canal therapy and extend both the time and cost of treatment,” explained an expert dentist from the institute to socialbites.ca, associated with EV Borovsk at Sechenov University.
The new probe, which is under a millimeter thick, employs diffuse reflection spectroscopy to assess how light is absorbed and scattered within the tooth. The markings indicate where dentin ends and the pulp begins. The probe has shown promising results in testing on wisdom teeth removed for medical reasons.
“Traditional imaging methods such as X-rays provide only a general sense of the distance to the pulp. Dentin is translucent, while the pulp contains hemoglobin and water, both of which interact with light in the diffuse reflection process. Our probe can be inserted into a carious cavity during dental procedures to estimate the remaining pulp depth and pinpoint the end of tissue preparation,” stated Gleb Budylin, head of the Clinical Biophotonics Laboratory at Sechenov University to socialbites.ca.
Clinicians are currently pursuing clinical trials of the probe during routine dental interventions. If successful, the technology could see broader use across dental practices. The study is conducted under the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership program, linking university research with clinical application.
Earlier initiatives by seasoned researchers aim to address common pathways in heart disease as part of cross-disciplinary efforts to enhance medical outcomes.