title: Forensic applications: Fluorescence properties of tooth-coloured restorative materials using a fluorescence DSLR camera.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the fluorescence properties of dry and wet samples of contemporary tooth-coloured restorative materials using a fluorescence based DSLR camera and a variety of LEDs emitting different wavelengths of visible light as excitation sources. The materials examined included resin composites; ceramics and hybrid restorative materials such as ormocers, Vita Enamic™ and resin reinforced glass-ionomer cements. The levels of fluorescence for each sample under different combinations of incident light wavelengths and filters was analysed by using histogram data for colour channels from Adobe Photoshop software. Fluorescence patterns were influenced by water sorption of the materials. UV-A/Violet light (405±nm) produced the greatest range of luminosity values (10-204) amongst the tooth-coloured restorative materials, and showed the greatest differences between restorations and tooth structure. The best filter combinations with violet light were orange or yellow filters. Under ultraviolet excitation, Fuji VIII A2 exhibited a unique bright pink fluorescence emission, while VitaEnamic™, ormocer and glass-ionomer cements emitted bluish-pink fluorescence emissions. In conclusion, restorative materials exhibited varied emission pattern under UV-A (405nm) light, which enables their detection and differentiation from natural tooth structure.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton 4701, Australia.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, UQ Oral Health Centre, 288 Herston Road, Herston, 4006, Australia. Electronic address: l.walsh@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.affiliation: International Research Collaborative, Oral Health and Equity, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton 4701, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D003738:Dental Cements; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005453:Fluorescence; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D003738:Dental Cements
keywords: Ceramics; Composite; Fluorescence; LED lights; Photography; UV light