Study on near-infrared diffused reflectance imaging for early caries detection

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world. Early detection can significantly enhance therapeutic outcomes and lessen the need for intrusive procedures. This research mainly focuses on the viability of near-infrared diffuse reflectance imaging for early caries detection. Methods: According to the theory of diffuse reflection imaging in tissue optics, a near-infrared diffuse reflectance imagery named new-NIR was established. In order to confirm the performance of the new-NIR, 54 areas of interest in 18 teeth were investigated simultaneously by the new-NIR, DIAGNOcam, which is a comparative diagnostic technique and visual inspection by a skilled dentist as the gold standard. The performance of the new-NIR was assessed using the Spearman grade correlation coefficient. Results:Compared with the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the new-NIR were 0.806, 0.870 and 0.833, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the DIAGNOcam were 0.871, 0.913, and 0.889, respectively. Conclusion: This technology is simple to use, non-contact, and feasible in the early stages of suggesting tooth enamel caries. Future studies will combine near-infrared diffuse reflectance imaging with an automatic classification algorithm to provide family-based oral health monitoring tools to prevent caries.