Application of a novel confocal imaging technique for early the detection of dental decay

Christel Rousseau; John M. Girkin; Shilpa Vaidya; Andrew F. Hall; C. John Whitters; Steve L. Creanor

doi:10.1117/12.469308

3 June 2002 Application of a novel confocal imaging technique for early the detection of dental decay

Christel Rousseau, John M. Girkin, Shilpa Vaidya, Andrew F. Hall, C. John Whitters, Steve L. Creanor

Proceedings Volume 4610, Lasers in Dentistry VIII; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.469308
Event: International Symposium on Biomedical Optics, 2002, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

In order to stop or prevent the progression of dental disease, early detection and quantification of decay are crucially important. Dental decay (caries) detection methods have traditionally involved clinical examination by eye, using probes and dental radiography, but up to 60% of lesions are missed. What the dentist requires is a cheap, reliable method of detection of early disease, ideally with information on the depth and rate of growth or healing. Conventional commercial scanning confocal microscopes are unsuitable for use on dental patients. We report on a fibre optic based confocal microscope designed for in vivo examination of caries lesions. The system utilizes a common fibre both as the source and to detect the reflected confocal signal. The initial system has been optimized using dielectric mirrors and the thickness of the stack has been measured with high precision. Dental samples have been examined and the system has been demonstrated to provide information on the depth and mineral loss of a lesion. Fibre optic microscopy (FOCM) demonstrates a practical route to developing an in vivo caries profiler. In this paper, the FOCM and its applications in caries detection are described and the potential of this scheme as a practical dental probe is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Christel Rousseau, John M. Girkin, Shilpa Vaidya, Andrew F. Hall, C. John Whitters, and Steve L. Creanor "Application of a novel confocal imaging technique for early the detection of dental decay", Proc. SPIE 4610, Lasers in Dentistry VIII, (3 June 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.469308

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