Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy as a Novel Method of Caries Detection—An In Vitro Comparative Study in Permanent Teeth

Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy as a Novel Method of Caries Detection—An In Vitro Comparative Study in Permanent Teeth

The study analyzes a new method for detecting dental caries using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It compares this approach with conventional visual examination based on the ICDAS system and laser fluorescence (Diagnodent pen) on a sample of 100 extracted teeth at various stages of decay.

The results indicate that DRS achieves higher specificity and accuracy while producing fewer false-positive results compared to other methods. Although the penetration depth of DRS was limited, it yielded promising results, particularly in the detection of early-stage caries. Thus, DRS could serve as a valuable tool for early caries identification and help reduce the need for invasive treatments.

Diagnostics 2023, 13, 1878

Abstract:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37296731/