Abstract
For the purpose of improving caries detection and enhancing the quality of caries treatment including prognosis and prevention, we used a transilluminating caries detection method by applying a spotlight from the light guide of a multi-purpose K-dental fiberscope proposed by Katagiri (1980), in bright field and dark field. To validate the usefulness of this method, we studied the second deciduous molar and obtained useful findings from the transilluminating effect.
1. According to the differences in conditions of illumination and incidence accompanying qualitative changes of the teeth studied, the images can be divided into the following: (1) general reflection image (bright field range, shadowless lamp illumination alone from the front at an illumination angle of 0 to less than 20°), (2) irregular reflection image (intermediate range, spot light illumination alone from the front at 0 to less than 45°), (3) general transillumination image (dark field range, incidence from the inside at 0 to less than 20°), (4) type I irregular transillumination image (intermediate range, illumination from the front at 45 to 90°), and (5) type II irregular transillumination image (bright field range under shadowless lamp, incidence from the insideat 45 to less than 90°).
2. The type I irregular transillumination image shows not only the transillumination image but also effect image resembling irregular reflection image, and type II irregular transillumination image shows not only irregular reflection image but also transillumination effect weaker than type I. Both provide useful images of illumination effects.
