Evaluation of dental caries detection with quantitative light-induced fluorescence in comparison to different field of view devices

Abstract

This study evaluated dental caries detection ability between the Qraycam and Qraypen on the same dental caries lesions. A total of 178teeth from 61patients were imaged using Qraypen C®(QC) and Qraycam Pro®(QP) devices and evaluated using analysis software (QA2). Occlusal, secondary, and proximal dental caries were evaluated and scored according to International Caries Detection and Assessment System(ICDAS II) and X-ray criteria. Bland–Altman plots were used to compare quantitative light-induced fluorescence(QLF) parameters obtained from the different QLF devices. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC) were calculated. The ΔFaver. of the QLF-parameters showed that the mean difference between the two different QLF devices was close to zero and that the ± 5 error value was included in the mean ± 1.96SD range for the detection of dental caries. The accuracies for diagnosing occlusal dental caries were 0.83–0.96 and 0.81–0.82 and the accuracies for diagnosing proximal dental caries were 0.52–0.62 and 0.52–0.71 for the QC and QP devices, respectively. In conclusion, the ΔFaver. obtained from the QP showed diagnostic value mainly for screening of demineralized teeth. For teeth selected through screening, the depth of the lesion must be precisely evaluated using additional QP and radiographic imaging.

Different Modalities in Caries Detection and Diagnosis

“…The qualitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technique can quantify small alterations in teeth based on autofluorescence, which occurs when the tooth is exposed to 405 nm visible blue light. The QLF device is composed of a light-emitted diode (LED), an inductor filter, and a metal oxide semiconductor sensor [27].…”

“…The greater the mineral loss, the greater the loss of tooth fluorescence. Even early lesions with minor mineral changes can be detected and monitored effectively [6,27]. When a lesion exists, an increase in light scattering causes the lesion to appear as dark patches on a bright green background.…”

“…Qualitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) is a noninvasive that can be used -in conjunction with the conventional visual-tactile and radiographical examination-to enhance the diagnosis of early enamel caries. It aids in the detection, quantification, and monitoring of early caries lesions that conventional methods may miss [6,27]. Furthermore, QLF may determine both the depth and the bacterial activity of dental caries at the same time.…”

Current Approaches to Diagnosis of Early Proximal Carious Lesion: A Literature Review

“…Recent studies have shown that the comparative reliability of QLF in the detection of primary teeth caries was found to be on par with, or marginally superior to, conventional diagnostic techniques such as visual inspection or radiographic examination under clinical circumstances [66][67][68]. Using QLF technology has proven to be a reliable approach for diagnosing early carious lesions and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment interventions.…”

Shine the Light, and Find the Path!

“…The limitation of these devices is their sensitivity to the external light which impacts the image quality. None of these devices were widely employed in clinical practice [2]. Some investigators focused on the detection of dental caries by OCT. OCT is an infra-red light-based imaging modality that generates cross-sectional images based on the magnitude of backscattered light.…”