Fiber optic backscatter spectroscopic sensor to monitor enamel demineralization and remineralizationin vitro

Abstract

In this study, a Fiber Optic Backscatter Spectroscopic Sensor (FOBSS) is used to monitor demineralization and remineralization induced changes in the enamel. A bifurcated fiber optic backscatter probe connected to a visible light source and a high resolution spectrophotometer was used to acquire the backscatter light spectrum from the tooth surface. The experiments were conducted in two parts. In Part 1, experiments were carried out using fiber optic backscatter spectroscopy on (1) sound enamel and dentine sections and (2) sound tooth specimens subjected to demineralization and remineralization. In Part 2, polarization microscopy was conducted to examine the depth of demineralization in tooth specimens. The enamel and dentine specimens from the Part-1 experiments showed distinct backscatter spectra. The spectrum obtained from the enamel-dentine combination and the spectrum generated from the average of the enamel and dentine spectral values were closely similar and showed characteristics of dentine. The experiments in Part 2 showed that demineralization and remineralization processes induced a linear decrease and linear increase in the backscatter light intensity respectively. A negative correlation between the decrease in the backscatter light intensity during demineralization and the depth of demineralization determined using the polarization microscopy was calculated to be p = -0.994. This in vitro experiment highlights the potential benefit of using FOBSS to detect demineralization and remineralization of enamel.

Optical pen-size reflectometer for monitoring of early dental erosion in native and polished enamels

“…Thomas et al showed a gradual increase of the diffuse reflectance during tooth erosion, 17 though the sensitivity of the signal to erosive changes was poor. Linear decrease and increase of the backscattered light intensity during demineralization and remineralization processes were reported by Kishen et al 18 Change of the specular and diffuse reflection intensities during erosion progression was investigated in our previous in vitro studies. 19,20 Particularly, sharp decay of the specular reflection was observed already in the early stages of enamel erosion in vitro, while the less pronounced increase of the diffuse reflection intensity was measured, which correlated well with the results of Thomas et al 17 Further investigation revealed a strong correlation between the decrease of the specular reflection and continuous surface roughening.…”

Effects of enamel abrasion, salivary pellicle, and measurement angle on the optical assessment of dental erosion

“…For example, a fiber optic backscatter spectroscopic sensor was successfully applied to monitor in vitro enamel demineralization and remineralization. 16 Thomas et al 10 used another fiber optic setup to monitor change of the diffuse reflection spectra after demineralization of enamel and dentine samples. However, the authors concluded that the diffuse reflection signal had a low sensitivity for enamel etching.…”

Qualitative analysis of re mineralized carious lesions subjected to fluoride supplement through confocal laser scanning microscope

“…Conventional microscopy suffers from the problem as light scattering, namely multiple scattering from objects that are out of focus within the illuminated region prevents imaging deep within a sample. Further, if care is not taken, optical microscopy can lead to the observation of certain artifacts which in turn leads to incorrect physical interpretation of the system in question [3,9].…”

“…Confocal laser scanning microscopy is a powerful imaging technique based upon optical behavior of light within specimens. Generally, confocal analysis features excita-tion (such as fluorescence) although emission detection is also possible [3]. The optical property of this technique helps in the detection of carious and non-carious lesions of the tooth [4].…”