43. Diagnosis of caries in pits and fissures, in smooth surfaces and in root surfaces. Assessment tools.

Question 1

1. What are the 2 traditional diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis?

Answer 1

1. Visual and tactile (probing)
2. X-ray: bite recording

Question 2

2. What are the 4 modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis?

Answer 2

1/ Transillumination (FOTI and infrared)
2/ fluorescence based systems (diagnodent, diagnodent pen, QLF - fluorescence based intraoral camera
3/ electric impedance spectroscopy
4/ photothermal radiometry

Question 3

3. Four modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis
   a/ Characteristics of transillumination (FOTI and infrared)

Answer 3

1/ Can use FOTI - Fiber optic translumination for pits, fissures and smooth surfaces
2/ can use infrared light with diagnocam

Question 4

3. Four modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis
   b/ Characteristics of fluorescence based systems (diagnodent, diagnodent pen, QLF )

Answer 4

1/ Using fluorescence based intraoral camera which can be vista proof or vista cam
2/ Good for dentin caries detection
3/ A laser beam directed onto the tooth will be rebounded with heat production and luminescence -> this will be perceived

Question 5

3. Four modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis
   c/ Characteristics of Electrical impedance spectroscopy

Answer 5

Electrical impedance spectroscopy, measuring impedance over a large range of frequencies, will provide more detailed information about the electrical characteristics of teeth

Question 6

3. Four modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis
   d/ Characteristics of photothermal radiometry

Answer 6

Canary system
- Low powered, laser based
- Includes intraoral camera, which detects the presence of cracks and decay before they are visible on the X-ray
- Laser pulses generate photothermal and luminescent response.
- Uses 3 sec scan.
- 2Hz pulse, can penetrate below tooth surface up to 5mm to detect the cracks and the lesions

Question 7

3. Four modern diagnostic techniques for Caries diagnosis
   e/ Characteristics of diagnodent?

Answer 7

1/ laser florescence technology
2/ early detection of fissure and proximal surface caries
3/ carious structure will be fluorescent, proportionately to the degree of caries