Validation of quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital in the quantification of demarcated hypomineralized lesions of enamel.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the validity of quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D) in regard to the detection and quantification of developmental demarcated hypomineralized lesions of enamel in vitro when compared to micro-computed tomography (CT) determination of lesion characteristics. A secondary aim was to develop a protocol for 3-D analysis using micro-CT.


METHODS
Twenty-four hypomineralized defects were classified as cream/white (CW), yellow/brown (YB), and post-eruptive breakdown. Teeth were scanned using micro-CT. Grayscale and chromatic vertical sections were constructed. Mineral density and porosity percentage were calculated. Fluorescence loss and red fluorescence were determined from images. Linear mixed models were computed.


RESULTS
Mineral density and porosity mean values by lesion type were statistically different (P<.001). CW lesions had lower fluorescence loss than YB and broken lesions. Red fluorescence was emitted by the majority of the defects, and the means between lesion types were statistically different (P<.001). The mixed model indicated that mineral density was not correlated with fluorescence loss and lesion type.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings support QLF-D as a method to detect hypomineralized lesions of different clinical presentation, with red fluorescence putatively related to the severity of the defects. The micro-CT 3-D approach is a reliable method to analyze structural changes in hypomineralized enamel.
Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Karla
K
Gambetta-Tessini
Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Rodrigo
R
Mariño
Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Aghareed
A
Ghanim
Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Geoffrey G
GG
Adams
Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
David J
DJ
Manton
D003744:Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
fluorescence; image analysis; micro-computed tomography; molar-incisor hypomineralization