title: Assessment of natural enamel lesions with optical coherence tomography in comparison with microfocus x-ray computed tomography.
abstract: A technology to characterize early enamel lesions is needed in dentistry. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive method that provides high-resolution cross-sectional images. The aim of this study is to compare OCT with microfocus x-ray computed tomography ([Formula: see text]) for assessment of natural enamel lesions in vitro. Ten human teeth with visible white spot-like changes on the enamel smooth surface and no cavitation (ICDAS code 2) were subjected to imaging by μCT (SMX-100CT, Shimadzu) and 1300-nm swept-source OCT (Dental SS-OCT, Panasonic Health Care). In [Formula: see text], the lesions appeared as radiolucent dark areas, while in SS-OCT, they appeared as areas of increased signal intensity beneath the surface. An SS-OCT attenuation coefficient based on Beer-Lambert law could discriminate lesions from sound enamel. Lesion depth ranged from 175 to [Formula: see text] in SS-OCT. A correlation between [Formula: see text] and SS-OCT was found regarding lesion depth ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and also surface layer thickness ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). The images obtained clinically in real time using the dental SS-OCT system are suitable for the assessment of natural subsurface lesions and their surface layer, providing comparable images to a laboratory high-resolution [Formula: see text] without the use of x-ray.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Department of Restorative Sciences, Cariology and Operative Dentistry, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espigares
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Dentistry , 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States ; Tokyo Medical and Dental University , International Exchange Center, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadr
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Department of Restorative Sciences, Cariology and Operative Dentistry, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamba
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Department of Restorative Sciences, Cariology and Operative Dentistry, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Department of Restorative Sciences, Cariology and Operative Dentistry, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Department of Restorative Sciences, Cariology and Operative Dentistry, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tagami
authors.affiliation: National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology , National Hospital for Geriatric Medicine, Department of Advanced Medicine, Division of Oral and Dental Surgery, 36-3, Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumi
keywords: dentistry; enamel; optical coherence tomography; optical properties; tissue characterization; x-ray imaging