Validation of quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital in the quantification of demarcated hypomineralized lesions of enamel

Abstract

Aim: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: fluorescence; image analysis; micro-computed tomography; molar-incisor hypomineralization.