A new concept in restorative dentistry: light-induced fluorescence evaluator for diagnosis and treatment. Part 1: Diagnosis and treatment of initial occlusal caries

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this in vivo experiment is to propose an innovative therapeutic concept using a light-induced fluorescence evaluator for diagnosis and treatment (LIFEDT) that is based on the imaging and autofluorescence of dental tissues.

Background: Processes with the aim of diagnosing carious lesions in the initial stage with optimum sensitivity and specificity employ a wide variety of technologies, but like the conventional diagnosis tools, they remain either inefficient or too subjective.

Technique: This experiment evaluated a fluorescence light-induced camera that illuminates tooth surfaces within an excitation radiation band of light with a wavelength of 450 nm and facilitates a high magnification image.

Conclusion: An analysis of 50 occlusal grooves revealed three clinical forms of enamel caries: (1) enamel caries on the surface, (2) suspicious grooves with a positive autofluorescent red signal, and (3) suspicious grooves with a neutral fluorescent dark signal. Two decision-making diagrams were proposed in accordance with international recommendations for preventive dentistry, but modified as a result of the accurate information obtained with this new LIFEDT device.

Clinical significance: The lighting of suspect occlusal grooves with the SoproLife camera enables observation of any variations in the optical properties to refine a caries diagnosis and facilitates more than a 50x magnification of occlusal groove anatomy to provide additional information on the carious potential of the tooth surface.