New approach on fluorescence spectroscopy for caries detection

Raimund Hibst; Robert Paulus

doi:10.1117/12.348341

19 May 1999 New approach on fluorescence spectroscopy for caries detection

Raimund Hibst, Robert Paulus

Proceedings Volume 3593, Lasers in Dentistry V; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.348341
Event: BiOS '99 International Biomedical Optics Symposium, 1999, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Today the diagnosis of caries is based mainly on examinations by visual inspection, dental probe or by x- rays. All methods are very limited when either initial or undermining caries have to be found. For initial caries promising results have been demonstrated by fluorescence spectroscopy with excitation wavelengths in the (ultra-)violet to green spectral region, especially 406 nm or 488 nm. In our investigations, we extended the considered excitation wavelength range into red. As expected, total fluorescence yield is decreasing with increasing wavelength, but this decrease is much more pronounced for sound compared to carious enamel or dentin. For 640 nm or 655 nm excitation for example, integral (λ>680nm) fluorescence intensity of cares can exceed that of healthy tissue by about one order of magnitude. This allows to detect caries by fluorescence intensity rather than by spectral analysis. On the basis of these results we have built up a system using a diode laser as light source, and a photo diode combined with a long pass filter as detector. It provides quantitatively reproducible measurements and detection even through sound enamel of 1 mm thickness. Clinical applications include detection of undermining caries and monitoring of the decay process.

Citation Download Citation

Raimund Hibst and Robert Paulus "New approach on fluorescence spectroscopy for caries detection", Proc. SPIE 3593, Lasers in Dentistry V, (19 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.348341

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