Near-infrared image-guided laser ablation of artificial caries lesions

You-Chen Tao; Kenneth Fan; Daniel Fried

doi:10.1117/12.714786

Abstract

Laser removal of dental hard tissue can be combined with optical, spectral or acoustic feedback systems to selectively ablate dental caries and restorative materials. Near-infrared (NIR) imaging has considerable potential for the optical discrimination of sound and demineralized tissue. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that two-dimensional NIR images of demineralized tooth surfaces can be used to guide CO₂ laser ablation for the selective removal of artificial caries lesions. Highly patterned artificial lesions were produced by submerging 5 x 5 mm² bovine enamel samples in demineralized solution for a 9-day period while sound areas were protected with acid resistant varnish. NIR imaging and polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) were used to acquire depth-resolved images at a wavelength of 1310-nm. An imaging processing module was developed to analyze the NIR images and to generate optical maps. The optical maps were used to control a CO₂ laser for the selective removal of the lesions at a uniform depth. This experiment showed that the patterned artificial lesions were removed selectively using the optical maps with minimal damage to sound enamel areas. Post-ablation NIR and PS-OCT imaging confirmed that demineralized areas were removed while sound enamel was conserved. This study successfully demonstrated that near-IR imaging can be integrated with a CO₂ laser ablation system for the selective removal of dental caries.

Citation Download Citation

You-Chen Tao, You-Chen Tao, Kenneth Fan, Kenneth Fan, Daniel Fried, Daniel Fried, } "Near-infrared image-guided laser ablation of artificial caries lesions", Proc. SPIE 6425, Lasers in Dentistry XIII, 64250T (8 March 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.714786; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.714786

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email/Username on this computer

Remember Password

No SPIE account? Create an account
or Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $14.40

Non-members: $18.00 ADD TO CART

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years