Abstract
In recent years, fluorescence-based optical methods for detecting dental caries have been examined with some success. However, these methods do not explicitly assess the lesion depth, which may prove to be a useful indicator of the progression/regression of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to apply a newly developed fibre optic-based confocal microscope to the characterisation of artificial enamel lesions in their initial stages. Lesions were found to produce characteristic back-scattering signals, with an initial peak indicating the sample surface and a smaller secondary peak indicating the base of the lesion. Analysis of these signals showed that lesions from as little as 20 to over 100 μm deep could be detected. As the technique incorporates fibre optics to deliver the excitation light and collect the back-scattered light, it is suited to clinical application. Further work is needed to show that this method is applicable to detecting natural lesions in vivo.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
