In vivo near-IR imaging of approximal dental decay at 1,310 nm.
OBJECTIVE
The high transparency of dental enamel in the near-IR (NIR) light at 1,310-nm can be exploited for imaging dental caries without the use of ionizing radiation (X-rays). We present the results of the first in vivo imaging study in which NIR images were acquired of approximal contact surfaces.


METHODS
NIR imaging hand-pieces were developed and attached to a compact InGaAs focal plane array and subsequently used to acquire in vivo NIR images of 33 caries lesions on 18 test subjects. The carious lesions were discernible on bitewing radiographs, but were not visible upon clinical examination.


RESULTS
NIR images were acquired in vivo from three directions and the majority of lesions examined were too small to require restoration, based on accepted bitewing radiograph criteria. All but one of the 33 lesions examined were successfully imaged from at least one direction.


CONCLUSIONS
This first in vivo study of imaging at the 1,310-nm wavelength region shows that NIR imaging has great potential as a screening tool for the detection of approximal lesions without the use of ionizing radiation.
Staninec
Michal
M
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0758, USA.
Lee
Chulsung
C
Darling
Cynthia L
CL
Fried
Daniel
D
D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014172:Transillumination / Q000295:instrumentation*