Detection and quantitative analysis of enamel erosion using DIFOTI^TM

Abstract

We studied the detection and quantification of enamel erosion using digital imaging fiber-optic trans-illumination (DIFOTI^TM). We prepared three sample teeth from extracted human mandibular incisors that had no white-spot lesions and were caries free based on visual examination. A window 3 mm in diameter was made on the buccal surface of each sample tooth with nail varnish and the sample was immersed in 0.1 M HCI solution for 10 minutes at room temperature to produce enamel erosion. DIFOTI^TM was employed to observe and analyze the enamel erosion. The treatment was repeated 6 times for each tooth.
The results indicated that by using differences in the contrast level observed in the DIFOTI^TM image, it was possible to detect erosion on the enamel surface. The level of enamel erosion created by the acid-immersion time could be evaluated by differences in the mean percent contrast values of the DIFOTI^TM images between the sound and eroded enamel. We concluded that DIFOTI^TM can be used to detect and quantitatively evaluate enamel erosion that has occurred on the tooth surface.Shika Igaku(J Osaka Odontol Soc) 2003 Dec; 66(4): 302-307.