In vivo QLF study on early diagnosis of dental caries : Results of one-year follow-up

Abstract

We investigated the in vivo use of the quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technique to assess caries risk of white spot lesions over a one-year follow-up period. Sixty five white spot lesions in 65 patients with a mean age of 20.3±8.3 years were selected by visual inspection during oral examination. The lesions were evaluated using the QLF technique at the start of the examination and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Four QLF parameters were analyzed from each white spot lesion image. The average lesion depth was measured as the average of fluorescence loss (ΔF, %). The maximum lesion depth was measured as the maximum fluorescence loss (ΔMax, %). The lesion size (S, mm^2) and mineral loss (ΔQ, %×mm^2) were also measured. The results indicated that QLF could be used to monitor caries risk of a white spot lesions and to determine whether a white spot lesion had progressed, been arrested or regressed during the one-year period. Based on these results we concluded that QLF is a suitable clinical technique for caries risk assessment at the white spot lesion stage.