DENTAL CARIES
Cite this article:
Javed F, Romanos GE.
A comprehensive
review of various
laser-based systems
used in early detection
of dental caries.
Stoma Edu J.
2015;2(2):108-113.
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
OF VARIOUS LASER-BASED SYSTEMS
USED IN EARLY DETECTION OF
DENTAL CARIES
Fawad Javed1a
Georgios E. Romanos2b*
Division of General Dentistry, Eastman
Institute for Oral Health, University of
Rochester, NY 14620, USA.
2
School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook
University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
1
BDS, PhD, Research Associate
b
DDS, DMD, PhD, Professor
a
Received: July, 1st 2015
Accepted: July, 14 2015
* Corresponding author:
Professor Georgios E. Romanos
School of Dental Medicine
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Tel: +1 (631) 632-8755
Fax: +1 (631) 632-8670
Email: [email protected]
108
Abstract
Introduction: The aim was to comprehensively review the various laser-based
systems used in early detection of dental caries.
Methodology: PubMed/Medline and Google-scholar databases were searched
from 1995 up to June 2015 using various combinations of the following
keywords: “dental early caries”, “diagnosis”, “laser” and “light fluorescence”
(LF). Literature reviews, letters to the Editor, and commentaries were excluded.
Articles published only in English were included. The pattern of the present
study was customized to primarily summarize the pertinent information.
Results: Laser fluorescence at 655 nm (DIAGNOdent) is a promising tool for
early detection of occlusal caries. Other systems based on the LF concept
include VistaProof (VP) and DIAGNOdent Pen; however, no statistically
significant difference in the caries detection efficacy has been reported
between VP, DIAGNOdent Pen and DIAGNOdent devices. Although light
emitting diode systems have also been tested for detecting caries, their
diagnosing efficacy remains unclear due to a lack of studies.
Conclusion: Lasers-based caries detection systems are useful tools in the early
detection of caries in contrast to traditional visual and radiographic examination
techniques; however, further studies are needed to assess the caries diagnostic
efficacy of the various commercially available laser-based caries diagnostic
systems.
Keywords: dental early caries, diagnosis, laser and light fluorescence, light
emitting diode
Introduction
Dental caries (or caries) represent a chronic
disease of the mineralized tissues of teeth,
namely (enamel, dentin and cementum)
caused by the action of cariogenic
bacteria on fermentable carbohydrates
leading to the demineralization of these
mineral portions and (if left untreated)
disintegration of their organic matrix.1
Traditionally, caries are diagnosed by
visual clinical examination (for example,
visualizing the size and depth of the
lesion using mechanical probes) and
radiographs (such as bite-wing images)2;
however, these techniques are able to
detect carious lesions only at an advanced
stage.3 Yet, specificity of visual examination
for the diagnosis of caries has been
reported to be high; the methodology
exhibits low sensitivity and reproducibility.4
Likewise, although digital radiography
(such as digital intra-oral and extra-oral
radiographs
and
three-dimensional
computed tomography) is a modernization
in imaging technology 5-7; the potential risk
of radiation hazards associated with these
techniques, remains inevitable.
Novel techniques have been assessed as
diagnostic tools to identify and quantify
initial demineralization. Laser fluorescence
(LF) (in the visible region, blue or red) has
been reported to be a valuable tool for
early diagnosis of caries.8,9 Caries detecting
devices based on the LF mechanism include
DIAGNOdent 2095 and DIAGNOdent 2190
(LF and LFpen, KaVo, Biberach, Germany).
Results by Takamori et al. 10 showed that LF
is useful in the early diagnosis of occlusal
caries. LF has also shown promising results
in the detection of caries in deciduous
teeth. 11,12 Likewise, other LF-based devices
comprising of a light-emitting-diode (LED)
STOMA.EDUJ (2015) 2 (2)