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The ability of Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) to detect and quantitatively monitor dental caries is well established. The aims of the present study were to determine the ability of QLF to detect and quantify dental erosion, and to correlate it with that of an established method of quantifying erosion (transverse microradiography, TMR). Bovine incisors were cleaned with wet pumice and each was cut into two halves. Each half was coated with non-fluorescent acid-resistant nail varnish except for an exposed window. Erosion was created by immersing the teeth in agitated orange juice (pH 3.5) at room temperature. Erosion was measured in one half of each tooth with QLF and in the second half with TMR as follows. Prior to erosion, a QLF image was taken from one half of each tooth while an enamel section was cut from the second half. This procedure was repeated every 30 min during the erosive attack,up to 300 min. The images and enamel sections were analysed for quantification of mineral loss using QLF systems (.Q) and TMR (.Z) respectively. The mineral loss measured by both systems increased with increasing erosion time. A linear relation (.Q = 8.50 + 0.013 .Z, r 2 = 0.96) was observed for the range .Q = ge 11.08-88.4 mm 2 · % and .Z = 910 - 6712 vol%·µm. It was concluded that QLF was able to detect and monitor mineral loss due to erosion, and could be a useful tool for assessment of mineral loss following erosive challenges. |