Detection of enamel subsurface lesions by swept-source optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomedical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Dental caries is a prevalent oral disease.
• Early detection of enamel demineralization is crucial for timely intervention.
• Non-destructive imaging techniques are needed to monitor caries progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in analyzing subsurface enamel caries progression.
• To correlate SS-OCT findings with established methods for assessing mineral loss and structural changes.

Main Methods:

• Artificial enamel caries were created in bovine teeth using a lactic acid gel system.
• Samples were analyzed using SS-OCT for imaging.
• Mineral density, distribution, and histological changes were assessed using electron probe microanalyzer, scanning electron microscopy, and contact microradiography.
• Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for surface analysis.

Main Results:

• SS-OCT successfully identified significant differences in mineral loss across various demineralization stages.
• High-brightness images and brightness graph changes correlated with the degree of demineralization.
• SS-OCT provided a non-destructive method to visualize subsurface changes.

Conclusions:

• SS-OCT is a promising non-destructive imaging modality for evaluating the progression of incipient enamel carious lesions.
• The technique offers a sensitive approach to detect mineral loss and structural alterations in early caries.
• SS-OCT has the potential to aid in clinical diagnosis and management of dental caries.