DENTAL CARIES
Figure 2. Light emitting diode caries detection system
(Source of image: Rodrigues JA et al. Light-emitting diode and laser fluorescence–based devices in detecting occlusal
caries. J Biomed Opt. 2011;16(10):107003)
Figure 3. Fluorescence camera based caries
detection system
(Source of image: http://www.airtechniques.com/
products/cam-x-spectra-caries-detection-aid.html)
caries following which they were assessed with
the LED- and LF-based caries detection devices13.
The study concluded that LED-based and LFbased devices detect caries more accurately as
compared to traditional visual-examination based
methodologies.13
However, the result showed no significant
difference in the caries detecting efficacy of LEDand LF-based systems.13 Results by Rodriguez
et al.14 demonstrated that LED-based caries
diagnosis systems are unable to differentiate
sound surfaces from enamel caries. In this study14,
the laser parameters used in the LED-based caries
detection system remained unclear. In this regard,
further studies with a large sample size are needed
to assess the significance of LED-based systems in
the diagnosis of caries.
Fluorescence cameras
Achilleos et al. 20, introduced a fluorescence
device (FC; Vista Proof, Duerr Dental, Germany), to
detect caries on occlusal surfaces of teeth ( Fig.3).
The tool emits light with a wavelength of 400 nm
and filters the fluorescence emitted by the tissue.
110
Specific software quantifies the fluorescence on a
numerical scale ranging from 0 to 5. This device
also works on the same principle as that for
DIAGNOdent that is, capturing the fluorescence
from bacterial porphyrins.
The authors reported the sensitivity of Vista Proof
to be significantly greater that for DIAGNOdent
(pen).20 In another study, Seremidi et al.21 compared
the efficacy of fluorescence device VistaProof (VP)
and DIAGNOdent Pen.
In this study, 107 sites on 41 occlusal surfaces of
recently extracted premolars were selected and
classified into lesion categories according to
Ekstrand’s clinical criteria [21].
The fluorescence of the sites was measured by
the Vista Proof and DIAGNOdent Pen devices. The
results demonstrated no statistically significant
difference between the accuracy of DP and VPs for
both enamel and dentin lesions. 21
Multispectral near-infrared reflectance imaging
Near infrared (NIR) multispectral imaging is a
novel non-invasive imaging technology that
maps and quantifies caries without using ionizing
radiation.22-25
This technology works on the concept that for
longer wavelengths (such as 1450 nm), water
absorption increases significantly and reduces the
penetration of the NIR light (Fig.4). 26
NIR digital imaging transillumination technology
has been shown to be useful as a diagnostic
tool in the detection of proximal caries and, less
importantly, for occlusal caries, fissures, and
secondary decay around amalgam and composite
restorations. 25
It has also been reported that early demineralization
appears with high contrast at NIR wavelengths due
to a 10- to 20-fold difference in the magnitude of
light scattering between sound and demineralized
enamel. 22,26
In an in-vitro study, Simon et al. 26 assessed how
the lesion contrast changes with the lesion severity
and depth for different spectral regions in H