Use of laser fluorescence in dental caries diagnosis: a fluorescence x biomolecular vibrational spectroscopic comparative study

Abstract

The aim of this work was to verify the existence of correlation between Raman spectroscopy readings of phosphate apatite (~960 cm -1 ), fluoridated apatite (~575 cm -1 ) and organic matrix (~1450 cm -1 ) levels and Diagnodent ® readings at different stages of dental caries in extracted human teeth. The mean peak value of fluorescence in the carious area was recorded and teeth were divided in enamel caries, dentin caries and sound dental structure. After fluorescence readings, Raman spectroscopy was carried out on the same sites. The results showed significant difference (ANOVA, p<0.05) between the fluorescence readings for enamel (16.4 ± 2.3) and dentin (57.6 ± 23.7) on carious teeth. Raman peaks of enamel and dentin revealed that ~575 and ~960 cm -1 peaks were more intense in enamel caries. There was significant negative correlation (p<0.05) between the ~575 and ~960 cm -1 peaks and dentin caries. It may be concluded that the higher the fluorescence detected by Diagnodent the lower the peaks of phosphate apatite and fluoridated apatite. As the early diagnosis of caries is directly related to the identification of changes in the inorganic tooth components, Raman spectroscopy was more sensitive to variations of these components than Diagnodent.

Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Dentistry: Analysis of Tooth Structure

“…Presently there are various techniques to diagnose dental caries (31). Current diagnostic methods can identify dental caries in advanced stages (3,32) where prevention can only stop the progression but cannot revert the destruction. Hence, early detection of dental caries and its prevention are necessary because early dental caries (incipient lesion) are noncavitated (33,34) and characterized by visible white spots when the enamel surface is dry.…”

“…Raman spectroscopy helps in characterizing hydroxyapatite crystals (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 (3,36,39). Several studies strongly recommend Raman spectroscopy as an effective and relatively easy tool for early diagnosis of dental caries (32,(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50) because during the caries process the inorganic matter of the tooth is gradually replaced by organic matter, which shows stronger organic peaks than normally seen. These changes are characterized by studying material compositions by exciting chemical bonds in the specimen (51).…”

“…de Carvalho et al (32) compared the fluorescence value recorded by Raman spectroscopy and an advanced caries detection aid (Diagnodent, Lake Zurich, Illinois) as shown in Figure 5. The fluorescence readings of the enamel caries, dentin caries, and sound dental structure were measured and the values were compared with the Raman spectroscopy readings.…”

FT Raman spectroscopy in the study of human teeth under medications demineralization

“…Raman spectroscopy of carious and non-carious teeth revealed reduction of the intensity of peaks from inorganic components, but were not statistically significant 29 . Unlike a previous study 30 that reported changes in the Raman peak of phosphate between sound and carious enamel, in this study was observed a significant reduction only for the 1070 cm-1 peak and area in this challenge.…”

HMU fluorinze mouthwash enhances enamel remineralization: An in vitro study

“…Diagnodent is a diagnostic device that has a probe that emits light directed on the mineralized surface to be examined. If this surface has some form of structural change, it will emit a fluorescent light that is captured back by the probe and the device will display values ranging from 0 to 99 [16], [17].…”