Lasers in caries diagnosis and prevention

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of Erbium lasers in caries prevention and optical methods for diagnosis. Temperature rise was measured by an infrared thermographic camera. Chemical and structural changes were identified by FTIR. Natural and artificial lesions were examined by optical coherence tomography. Laser irradiation resulted in surface temperature rises around 400°C, loss of water, change of the collagen, increase of the OH ^{-} radical and a small change in the mineral matrix. OCT analysis produced a dentin-enamel tomogram with 10 μm resolution. Fluorescence spectroscopy and OCT system were able to detect and differentiate early caries in its structure.