Optical coherence tomography: a new imaging technology for dentistry.
BACKGROUND
Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, is a new diagnostic imaging technique that has many potential dental applications. The authors present the first intraoral dental images made using this technology.


METHODS
The authors constructed a prototype dental OCT system. This system creates cross-sectional images by quantifying the reflections of infrared light from dental structures interferometrically.


RESULTS
We used our prototype system to make dental OTC images of healthy adults in a clinical setting. These OCT images depicted both hard and soft oral tissues at high resolution.


CONCLUSIONS
OCT images exhibit microstructural detail that cannot be obtained with current imaging modalities. Using this new technology, visual recordings of periodontal tissue contour, secular depth and connective tissue attachment now are possible. The internal aspects and marginal adaptation of porcelain and composite restorations can be visualized.


CONCLUSIONS
There are several advantages of OCT compared with conventional dental imaging. This new imaging technology is safe, versatile, inexpensive and readily adapted to a clinical dental environment.
Otis
L L
LL
Department of Oral Diagnosis, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington 06030-1605, USA.
Everett
M J
MJ
Sathyam
U S
US
Colston
B W
BW
D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007368:Interferometry / Q000379:methods; D008027:Light; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*