title: Pilot study on laser propagation in maxillary and mandibular bone: Grey level image analysis for optical measurements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone tissue anatomy, density and porosity vary among subjects in different phases of life and even within areas of a single specimen. The optical characteristics of changes in bone tissue are analyzed based on these properties. Photobiomodulation has been used to improve bone healing after surgery or fractures. Thus, knowledge on light propagation is of considerable importance to the obtainment of successful clinical outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determines light penetration and distribution in human maxillary and mandibular bones in three different regions (anterior, middle, and posterior).
  
  
  METHODS
  A HeNe laser (633nm) irradiated maxillary and mandibular bones in the cervical-apical direction. The light propagation and scattering pattern were acquired and the grey level of the images was analyzed. Three-dimensional plots of the intensity profile and attenuation profiles were created.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in optical properties were found between the mandibular and maxillary bones. The maxilla attenuated more light than the mandible at all sites, leading to a shallower penetration depth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide initial information on the behavior of the propagation of red laser on alveolar bone using an optical method.
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monalisa Jacob
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Guiselini
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Information Technology, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro Melo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deana
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Engineering, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Fátima Teixeira da Silva
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Engineering, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nelson Hideyoshi
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Koshoji
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; Rehabilitation Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Agnelli
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mesquita-Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Dentistry, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katia Llanos
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: do Vale
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Betti
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mascaro
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone Aleksandra
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; Rehabilitation Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Dentistry, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Kalil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bussadori
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Dentistry, Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE, 249 Vergueiro Street, Zip Code: 01504-001, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: kristianneporta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristianne Porta Santos
authors.initials: KPS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000502:physiology*; D023861:Photography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
keywords: Alveolar bone; Low-level laser; Optical properties; Photobiomodulation