Assessment of dental caries with Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic TransIllumination (DIFOTI): in vitro study.
This paper describes Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic TransIllumination (DIFOTI-TM), a new method for the reliable detection of dental caries. Images of teeth obtained through visible-light, fiber-optic transillumination (FOTI) are acquired with a digital CCD camera, and sent to a computer for analysis with dedicated algorithms. The algorithms were developed to facilitate the location and diagnosis of carious lesions by the operator in real time, and provide quantitative characterization for monitoring of the lesions. The DIFOTI method has been tested by imaging teeth in vitro. The results suggest the superior sensitivity of DIFOTI for detection of approximal, occlusal and smooth-surface caries vis-à-vis radiological imaging.
Schneiderman
A
A
Department of Oral Pathology, Biology, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07103, USA.
Elbaum
M
M
Shultz
T
T
Keem
S
S
Greenebaum
M
M
Driller
J
J
D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D055100:Optical Fibers; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014172:Transillumination / Q000295:instrumentation*