Explore the vast range of titles available.

The aim of this study was to present an optimal diagnostic protocol by comparing and analyzing a conventional examination and the quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technique. Selected were 297 teeth of 153 patients to take QLF images and bitewing radiographs. Occlusal dental caries, proximal dental caries and cracks were evaluated and scored using QLF, X-ray and/or visual criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic analysis were calculated. Two fluorescence parameters (|ΔFmax| and ΔRmax) were utilized to evaluate the fluorescence pattern according to the severity of lesions based on QLF or X-ray criteria. QLF showed higher scores for detecting occlusal dental caries and cracks than the conventional method. ΔRmax increased more clearly than ΔFmax did with occlusal dental caries. The |ΔFmax| values of occlusal dental caries, proximal dental caries and cracks showed good AUC levels (0.84, 0.81 and 0.83, respectively). The ΔRmax of occlusal dental caries showed the highest AUC (0.91) and the ΔRmax of proximal dental caries showed a fail level (0.59) compared to bitewing radiographs. The QLF image could visualize and estimate the degree of occlusal dental caries or cracks. Consequently, the QLF technique may be an adjunct tool to conventional methods for the detection of occlusal caries and peripheral cracks.

The images of the Quantitative Light induced Fluorescent (QLF) device, which provides both natural color images similar to those from intraoral cameras and fluorescent images using 405 nm light in a single shot, were evaluated for the validity and inter examiner reliability in detecting tooth cracks. QLF images of 26 cracked teeth before and after removing crack lines were taken. Two examiners assessed the QLF images before removing the crack line with natural color images, fluorescent images, and combination images showing both images simultaneously, and recorded the crack’s location after observing images. The reference standard of the crack’s location was established by a trained dentist based on QLF images after removing the crack line. The agreement between examiners and the reference standard of the crack line was calculated by kappa value. Inter examiner agreement of natural color images showed at 0.394, while fluorescent and combination images showed at 0.449 and 0.493. Compared with the reference standard, the combination and fluorescent images showed higher agreement at 0.742 and 0.662, while the natural color images showed the lowest agreement, at 0.164. Determining crack location using only natural colored QLF images is challenging, but fluorescent and combination images improved agreement between examiners and the reference standard.

Background The early and accurate detection of occlusal caries in primary molars is critical to prevent its progression, as primary teeth are more susceptible to rapid carious development. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of various caries detection methods, in detecting occlusal caries in primary molars. Methods A total of 88 freshly extracted primary molar teeth were included in this in vitro study. The teeth were assessed using four diagnostic methods: International Caries Detection and Assessment System II (ICDAS), Midwest Caries I.D (MW), DIAGNOdent pen (LFpen) and Quantitative-Light-Induced-Fluorescence (QLF). The performance of the method was evaluated by two examiners at two separate time points. Sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated for both the enamel (D1) and dentin (D3) thresholds. Histological evaluation was performed as the gold standard for comparison. Interexaminer and intraexaminer reproducibility were assessed using Cohen’s weighted kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results At the enamel caries threshold (D1), MW achieved the highest sensitivity (61.7–76.6%), while QLF exhibited the highest specificity (92.5%). For dentin caries (D3), LFpen had the highest sensitivity ( p < 0.05 ), whereas ICDAS achieved 100% specificity. LFpen demonstrated the best overall diagnostic accuracy, with AUC values ranging from 0.823 to 0.875. Interexaminer reproducibility was highest for LFpen (ICC: 0.719–0.869), followed by ICDAS (kappa: 0.584–0.932). Conclusion LF pen showed the highest overall AUC and the greatest sensitivity at the D3 threshold. At the D1 threshold, Midwest Caries ID achieved the highest sensitivity, whereas QLF yielded the highest specificity, minimizing false positives. ICDAS remains a practical, cost-effective option for routine clinical use.

Objectives This study investigated the effectiveness of a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) in diagnosing and staging caries lesions in quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images taken by a self-manufactured handheld device. Methods A small toothbrush-like device consisting of a 400 nm UV light-emitting lamp with a 470 nm filter was manufactured for intraoral imaging. A total of 133 cases with 9,478 QLF images of teeth were included for caries lesion evaluation using a CNN model. The database was divided into development, validation, and testing cohorts at a 7:2:1 ratio. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated for model performance. Results The overall caries prevalence was 19.59%. The CNN model achieved an AUC of 0.88, an accuracy of 0.88, a specificity of 0.94, and a sensitivity of 0.64 in the validation cohort. They achieved an overall accuracy of 0.92, a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.55 in the testing cohort. The model can distinguish different stages of caries well, with the best performance in detecting deep caries followed by intermediate and superficial lesions. Conclusions Caries lesions have typical characteristics in QLF images and can be detected by CNNs. A QLF-based device with CNNs can assist in caries screening in the clinic or at home. Trial registration The clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2300073487, Date: 12/07/2023).

ABSTRACT Introduction: One the most common chronic dental diseases affecting children is dental caries. Dentin caries is a condition in which caries has progressed to the dentin and caused a significant depth of lesion. Clinical studies have revealed that an increased caries risk is associated with a decreased alkali-producing capacity of the microbial populations colonizing the oral cavity of adults, which arginine somewhat compensates for. Aims: To evaluate the remineralizing efficacy of fluoridated toothpaste, with fluoride-arginine containing toothpaste on demineralized dentin of primary teeth using quantitative light-induced fluorescence™. Materials and Methods: Forty-five primary molars were decoronated and sectioned to prepare dentin specimens and mounted in an acrylic block in a uniform manner using a customized acrylic jig. Samples were randomized into three groups, were subjected to demineralization to create artificial dentin caries lesion. Following this, all the 45 samples were subjected to multispecies bacterial pH cycling for 21 days. All the specimens were evaluated for postdemineralization, pH cycling day 7, 14, and 21 on QLF™. Results: On day 21, maximum fluorescence gain was observed by the positive control group followed by the arginine and negative control group. The variation observed between positive control and arginine group was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: An in vitro development of artificial caries such as demineralized lesion on primary dentin sample using plaque biofilm was observed successfully under QLF after 72 h. Arginine in combination with fluoride showed almost similar remineralization of demineralized primary dentin compared to fluoride alone after 21 days of multispecies bacterial pH cycling.

Context: Aesthetic concerns due to dental fluorosis (DF) considerably impact pyschosocial health in young children and requires aesthetic microinvasive treatment. Aims: The aim of this study was to use quantitative light-induced fluorescence to evaluate two intervention protocols: microabrasion with resin infiltration and microabrasion with remineralization and assess which brings about more fluorescence gain; better colour masking and greater patient satisfaction among subjects with dental fluorosis. Methods and Material: 120 maxillary central incisors with Grade 3 DF (Dean's Fluorosis Index) were randomly distributed into four groups: I-microabrasion + resin infiltration (fluorosis with stains); II-microabrasion + remineralization (fluorosis with stains); III-microabrasion + resin infiltration (fluorosis without stains); IV-microabrasion + remineralization (fluorosis without stains). At baseline, post-microabrasion and post-intervention Quantitative light-induced fluorescent images were captured. Fluorescence gain (ΔF) was analysed from the blue light images. The white light images were used to evaluate post intervention colour difference (ΔE = [(ΔL*) 2+(Δa*) 2+(Δb*) 2]1/2) and child satisfaction was evaluated. Statistical Analysis Used: Collected data was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA and Independent t-test. Results: Intra-group comparison of ΔF values showed statistically significant improvement in ΔF value in all the four groups (P < 0.001, 0.002). Inter-group comparison of ΔF values based on intervention showed statistically significant fluorescence gain (P < 0.004) indicating resin infiltration intervention being better than remineralization in unstained grade III fluorosis. The colour difference was statistically significantly better with resin infiltration in both stained and unstained Grade III DF (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Resin infiltration intervention showed better fluorescence gain and colour masking compared to remineralization intervention.

Purpose To compare the effects of a fluoride dentifrice alone, versus a topical CPP–ACP crème used as a dentifrice, versus the combination of both agents (fluoride dentifrice followed by CPP–ACP crème) on early caries lesions (ECL) in primary anterior teeth of children over a 6-month period. Methods In this single blinded randomised clinical trial, children ( n  = 114, aged 4–5 years) with high caries risk and who had at least one ECL (ICDAS 2) on their primary anterior teeth were allocated to three groups. Subjects used different agents twice daily: fluoride dentifrice (500 ppm F, n  = 42), CPP–ACP crème (10% w/v, n  = 35), and the fluoride dentifrice followed by CPP–ACP crème ( n  = 37). Changes in lesions were tracked using QLF, comparing the baseline situation to 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results QLF changes consistent with mineral gain (∆F/fluorescence, lesion area) occurred in all three groups (baseline versus 3 months or 6 months, p  ≤ 0.05 for all three groups). Differences between treatment groups were not statistically significant ( p  > 0.05). Conclusion The topical CPP–ACP crème used alone gave effects similar to the fluoride dentifrice; however, the combination of the two did not give additive benefits over either agent used in isolation.

Nowadays, dental caries is one of the most common oral health problems, affecting most individuals. It has been found that, by remineralizing enamel at an early stage in the formation of enamel caries, teeth can be effectively protected from dental caries. In this work, a peptide with eight repetitive sequences of aspartate-serine-serine (8DSS) is applied as the bio-mineralizer in an in-vivo rat enamel caries model. Nondestructive quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D) imaging and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) are used to evaluate the remineralization of enamel carious lesions by measuring the total fluorescence radiance loss of the molar area (ΔQTotal), acquired using QLF-D imaging, and the mineral density and residual molar enamel volume, acquired using micro-CT. Correlations are explored between ΔQTotal and mineral density (strong correlation, r = 0.8000, p < 0.001) and ΔQTotal and residual molar enamel volume (moderate correlation, r = 0.6375, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that 8DSS is a promising in-vivo remineralization agent that exhibits comparable effects to NaF (p < 0.05), which has been verified using the classical Keyes method. Moreover, the nondestructive QLF-D and micro-CT methods can be combined to quantify the remineralization of enamel carious lesions three-dimensionally in vivo, making them broadly applicable in quantifying hard tissues.

Background A quantitative light-induced fluorescence digital (QLF-D) camera is able to assess demineralizations adjacent to orthodontic brackets. Rotations of teeth during and the presence of the orthodontic appliances may influence the longitudinal follow-up of such lesions over time. Methods Brackets were bonded on extracted teeth: 54 incisors and 31 canines. Demineralizations were formed in vitro directly cervical of the bracket. Images were captured using a QLF-D camera mounted on an optical bench, equipped with a goniometer on a turntable. The teeth were placed in the goniometer simulating buccolingual rotation (0°, 10°, 20°), the turn-table was used for mesiodistal rotations (0°, 10°, 20°). Standardized QLF-D images were made before (with and without a wire) and after debonding at combinations of aforementioned angles of rotation. The image after debonding at 0° buccolingual and 0° mesiodistal rotation served as a control. Results The presence of a bracket resulted in a significantly higher fluorescence loss, yet a smaller lesion area ( p  < 0.05) in comparison to the control. A significant higher fluorescence loss was seen for rotations towards lingual relative to the 0° buccolingual and 0° mesiodistal rotation, while the effect was less explicit towards buccal. Conclusions Fluorescence loss and lesion size are influenced by the angle of rotation under which the demineralization is photographed. The full extent of demineralizations is only apparent after debonding when photographed at rotations of 0° mesiodistal and up to 20° buccal. Precaution must be taken into account assessing demineralizations of patients undergoing treatment with fixed appliances when using a QLF-D camera.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) in detecting dental caries of varying lesion severities, surfaces, and dentition types, across both in vitro and in vivo studies. Data extracted included study characteristics, diagnostic outcomes (sensitivity, specificity, AUC), caries types, lesion thresholds (ICDAS), and QLF parameters (ΔF, ΔR). Enamel lesions were stratified into incipient (ICDAS 1–2) and advanced stages (ICDAS 3), with dentin caries defined as ICDAS 4 or greater. A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted up to May 2023, without language restrictions. Manual reference screening was performed to identify additional relevant studies. Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria, which included evaluating QLF against reference standards (ICDAS, radiography, histology) and reporting diagnostic measures. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2. Meta-analysis included studies with extractable or inferable 2 × 2 contingency data. QLF demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing sound surfaces from enamel and dentin lesions, with in vivo Area Under the Curve (AUC) values for incipient occlusal lesions ranging from 0.94 to 0.98. The technology showed high pooled sensitivity and specificity for both occlusal (in vivo: 0.86/0.82) and approximal caries (in vivo: 0.74/0.82), confirming its effectiveness for early-stage detection.