Initial caries diagnosis in rat molars, using laser fluorescence

Abstract

Scoring of enamel caries in rat molars in ordinary light and in laser fluorescence was compared. Fifty rats were infected with Streptococcus mutans; 5 served as control rats, and the other 45 were fed a cariogenic diet for 15-20 days. With Keyes's system, the total enamel caries score for 35 of the test rats was 29.1 lesions per rat (l/r) in ordinary light and 39.6 l/r in laser fluorescence. The corresponding scores for fissure caries were 15.9 l/r and 21.6 l/r, respectively. Fissure caries scores of thin, longitudinal, central sections from the molars of the 10 remaining test rats were 18.0 l/r in ordinary light, 21.4 l/r in laser fluorescence, and 17.1 l/r in microradiographic analysis. In conclusion, the use of laser fluorescence improves scoring of early enamel carious lesions in rat molars, offering potential reductions in test time and/or sucrose load in animal caries research.

The current status of laser applications in dentistry

“…5 Detection of proximal lesions is technically more difficult, and in this setting, argon laser-induced fluorescence offers a valuable adjunct to conventional methods. [6][7][8][9] The differential water content of early fissure caries and sound occlusal enamel has also led to the development of methods using the carbon dioxide laser to reveal such lesions, [10][11][12] and to modify the fissure system to increase resistance to future carious attack. 11 Two key advantages of laser-based systems are their high sensitivity, and the lack of attendant risks of ionizing radiation.…”

An in vitro Comparison between Laser Fluorescence and Visual Examination for Detection of Demineralization in Occlusal Pits and Fissures

“…Several investigators [Bjelkhagen et al, 1982;Sundström et al, 1985; AngmarMånsson and ten Bosch, 1987;Hafström-Björkman et al, 1991de Josselin de Jong et al, 1995;Emami et al, 1996;Angmar-Månsson et al, 1996] have demonstrated…”

Avaliação in vitro do aparelho DIAGNOdent para diagnóstico oclusal

“…No entanto, muitos outros métodos estão sendo desenvolvidos para auxiliar no diagnóstico da cá-rie, como transluminação por fibra óptica, o exame endoscópico, utilização de elásticos separadores, uso de luz difusa, iluminação ultravioleta, penetração de corantes, penetração de iodo, resistência elétrica, ultra-som, radiografia digitalizada e xerorradiografia 13 . Na década de 90, algumas pesquisas têm demonstrado boa perspectiva relacionada a utilização do laser fluorescente como auxiliar no diagnóstico da cárie 1,3,4,7,8,15 , comprovando que o laser é capaz de detectar desmineralizações iniciais, principalmente quando é adicionado corante fluorescente na superfície dental que se quer avaliar 5,6 . Isto pode ser explicado, pois lesões de cárie (iniciais ou cavitadas) aparecem como áreas escuras quando excitadas pelo feixe de luz laser (488 nm).…”