Tooth cracks detection and gingival sulcus depth measurement using optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Dental Imaging
• Ophthalmology Technology Applied to Dentistry

Background:

• Accurate detection of dental issues like cracks and periodontal pockets is crucial for effective treatment.
• Current diagnostic methods may have limitations in sensitivity or invasiveness.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive imaging modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated technique for detecting tooth cracks using SS-OCT.
• To establish quantitative methods for measuring gingival sulcus depth with SS-OCT.
• To evaluate SS-OCT as a novel diagnostic tool in dentistry.

Main Methods:

• Utilized swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) with a 1310 nm wavelength and 100 nm spectral bandwidth at 50 kHz.
• Verified SS-OCT image reliability by imaging cracks in extracted human teeth.
• Assessed SS-OCT for visualizing gingival sulcus depth in porcine samples.

Main Results:

• SS-OCT successfully and automatically detected the positions of various tooth cracks.
• The technology visualized deep periodontal pockets, indicating its utility for assessing gum health.
• Image reliability was confirmed through imaging of dental samples.

Conclusions:

• SS-OCT is a viable tool for the automatic detection of dental cracks.
• SS-OCT provides quantitative measurements for gingival sulcus depth.
• The diagnostic capabilities of SS-OCT are beneficial for identifying dental cracks and periodontal pockets.