Detection of dentinal microcracks using infrared thermography

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Diagnosing cracked teeth, especially with microcracks, is challenging due to limitations in root canal inspection.
• Current methods for detecting root dentinal microcracks are insufficient, necessitating improved techniques.
• Vibrothermography (VibroIR) utilizes friction heat from ultrasonic vibration as a potential crack detection mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and evaluate a novel Vibrothermography (VibroIR) method for detecting dentinal microcracks in tooth roots.

Main Methods:

• Tooth roots with and without induced microcracks were prepared.
• VibroIR was employed to detect microcracks using ultrasonic vibration (0.43–1.48 W) at various angles (0°–90°) relative to the crack line.
• Microcrack width was measured post-detection using an optical microscope.

Main Results:

• Frictional heat indicative of microcracks was detected using VibroIR within a specific power range (0.89–1.48 W) and angle (<60°) relative to the crack line.
• The method successfully detected microcracks ranging from 4 to 35.5 μm in width.
• Detection was achieved within a 10-second timeframe.

Conclusions:

• Vibrothermography (VibroIR) demonstrates potential as an effective diagnostic tool for identifying root dentinal microcracks.
• The findings suggest that VibroIR can aid in the diagnosis of otherwise difficult-to-detect root fractures.