Application of NIR Raman spectroscopy for detecting and characterizing early dental caries

A. C.-T. Ko; L.-P. Choo-Smith; R. Zhu; M. Hewko; C. Dong; B. Cleghorn; M. G. Sowa

doi:10.1117/12.647159

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27 February 2006 Application of NIR Raman spectroscopy for detecting and characterizing early dental caries

A. C.-T. Ko, L.-P. Choo-Smith, R. Zhu, M. Hewko, C. Dong, B. Cleghorn, M. G. Sowa

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Proceedings Volume 6093, Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy III: Advances in Research and Industry; 60930L (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.647159
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Early dental caries detection facilitates implementation of non-surgical methods for arresting caries progression and promoting tooth remineralization. We present a method based on Raman spectroscopy with near-IR laser excitation to provide biochemical contrast for detecting and characterizing incipient carious lesions found in extracted human teeth. Changes in Raman spectra are observed in PO₄^3- vibrations arising from hydroxyapatite of mineralized tooth tissue. Examination of various intensities of the PO₄^3- ν2, ν3, ν4 vibrations showed consistent increased intensities in spectra of carious lesions compared to sound enamel. The spectral changes are attributed to demineralization-induced alterations of enamel crystallite morphology and/or orientation. This hypothesis is supported by reduced Raman polarization anisotropy derived from polarized Raman spectra of carious lesions. Polarized Raman spectral imaging of carious lesions found on whole (i.e. un-sectioned) tooth samples will also be presented.

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A. C.-T. Ko, L.-P. Choo-Smith, R. Zhu, M. Hewko, C. Dong, B. Cleghorn, and M. G. Sowa "Application of NIR Raman spectroscopy for detecting and characterizing early dental caries", Proc. SPIE 6093, Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy III: Advances in Research and Industry, 60930L (27 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.647159

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