title: Influence of enamel thickness on quantification of mineral loss in enamel using laser-induced fluorescence.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of enamel thickness on the quantification of white-spot lesions with laser fluorescence. One hundred and twenty 3-mm-diameter human ground and polished enamel specimens were used. Specimens were illuminated by a 488-nm argon laser, images were acquired through a 540-nm high-pass filter and stored on the Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) program. Specimens were divided into two groups and demineralized for 48 or 96 h and QLF images were again acquired. Fluorescence radiance (FR) of both sound (FR(s)) and demineralized (FR(d)) enamel was determined using the QLF program. Change in fluorescence radiance (Delta FR, %) was determined as follows: Delta FR = FR(d)/FR(s) x 100. One thin section was obtained for transverse microradiography analysis. Enamel and dentin thickness of the thin sections were measured. There was a good correlation between QLF parameters and enamel thickness. It can be concluded that the FR observed for similar lesions depends on the actual enamel thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Oral Health Research Institute, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, 46202-2876, USA. mando@iupui.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Schemehorn
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zero
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stookey
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008852:Microradiography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000473:pathology*