Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for diagnosing a disease in the gingival region of an individual, comprising: quantitatively measuring blood flow or changes in blood flow in the gingival region of the individual, potentially comparing these data to that of a healthy subject, and diagnosing the disease based one of more of these quantities.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device with laser therapy capability, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to ultrasonic scaler with laser therapy capability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for diagnosing a disease in the gingival region of an individual, comprising: quantitatively measuring blood flow or changes in blood flow in the gingival region of the individual, potentially comparing these data to that of a healthy subject, and diagnosing the disease based one of more of these quantities.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods of determining an efficacy of a xerostomia treatment in a mammalian subject (e.g., a human) that include the steps of comparing a first thickness of a site in the subject that comprised of sub-epithelial oral mucosa to a second thickness of the site; and thereby determining that: the xerostomia treatment is efficacious because the second thickness is greater than the first thickness; or the xerostomia treatment is not efficacious because the first thickness is greater than or equal to the second thickness. In such methods, assaying the first thickness comprises analyzing a first OCT scan of the site that was conducted at a time close to the subject starting the xerostomia treatment, and assaying the second thickness comprises analyzing a second OCT scan of the site that was conducted at a time close to the subject completing the xerostomia treatment.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods of determining an efficacy of a xerostomia treatment in a mammalian subject (e.g., a human) that include the steps of comparing a first thickness of a site in the subject that comprised of sub-epithelial oral mucosa to a second thickness of the site; and thereby determining that: the xerostomia treatment is efficacious because the second thickness is greater than the first thickness; or the xerostomia treatment is not efficacious because the first thickness is greater than or equal to the second thickness. In such methods, assaying the first thickness comprises analyzing a first OCT scan of the site that was conducted at a time close to the subject starting the xerostomia treatment, and assaying the second thickness comprises analyzing a second OCT scan of the site that was conducted at a time close to the subject completing the xerostomia treatment.

Abstract: The invention includes a noninvasive method for characterizing dental pulpal vitality of a tooth including the steps of irradiating the tooth with at least partially coherent light, and speckle imaging to provide quantitative feedback to an end user of pulpal blood flow in the tooth, and the tangible records made by such a method. The invention also includes an apparatus for noninvasively characterizing dental pulpal vitality of a tooth comprising a source of at least partially coherent light for irradiating the tooth characterized by a speckle pattern, optics for directing the at least partially coherent light onto the tooth, including a corresponding pulpal cavity within the tooth, a detector for detecting transmission of the at least partially coherent light through the tooth, and a processor coupled to the detector speckle imaging to provide a quantitative feedback of pulpal blood flow in the tooth.