Utilization of laser fluorescence to monitor caries lesions development in primary teeth

The objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate laser fluorescence (LF) performance in monitoring and quantifying smooth-surface incipient caries lesions in primary teeth.

Artificial caries lesions were produced in 2 delimited windows on the buccal surface of 24 primary incisors using a pH-cycling procedure. LF (DIAGNOdent) readings were collected on the windows on each tooth surface before (sound enamel) and after (artificial caries lesions) the demineralization process. The left lesion of each tooth was used for the polarized light microscopy analysis. Statistical tests were performed to observe the performance of the method and correlation between LF readings and caries lesions depth.

There was a significant increase in the LF readings after demineralization (P < .0001). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.956, showing a good result of the method. The best cut off LF value to detect incipient caries was 5, and with this value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 0.78, 1, and 0.89, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient between DIAGNOdent values and caries lesion depth was 0.68.

Although LF was good at detecting artificial caries lesions in primary teeth, the quantification of mineral loss was undesirable.