Use of spectral domain optical coherence tomography to detect internal defects of resin composites in carious teeth after restorations

Abstract

Postoperative testing plays an important role in evaluating clinical effect of treatment of caries by filling the decayed teeth with resin composites, which mainly depends on the detection of defects at the interface between resin composites and cavity to date, without considering the internal defects of resin composites. Here, we report, for the first time, the measurement of the morphologies within resin composites by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Experiments were performed on the ex vivo human carious teeth after restorations, and the results showed that the tiny cracks and air bubbles within resin composites can be clearly distinguished. With features of noninvasive imaging, high resolution and real-time processing, this system may have great potential to be applied for caries as a useful clinical evaluation tool, and with that, we should pay more attention to the internal defects of resin composites in the future in order to better assess and manage the treatment.