| Ando M, Eggertsson H, Zandoná A, González-Cabezas C, Waskow J, Krushinski C, Stookey GK,Zero DT (2003) Ability of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) to assess the status of white-spot lesions during dehydration.. Caries Res. 37: p. 285 |
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The objective of this study was to determine the ability of QLF to determine the status of white-spots using visual examination (VE) as gold standard. Thirty-four specimens were prepared from extracted human permanent posterior teeth with natural white-spots on the interproximal surface. A series of QLF images was acquired at 1-second intervals up to 10 s and at 5 s intervals thereafter to 45 s. During image acquisition, specimens were dehydrated with compressed air. Fluorescence loss (.F), lesion size (S), and .Q (.F×S) were determined. Parameter changes (.QLFD: .FD, .SD, .QD) were determined using the following equation: (subsequent QLF-parameter - baseline QLF-parameter)/dehydration time. Five dentists conducted VE independently under standardized conditions using a dental unit's light, compressed air, with an explorer, used only to check surface structure. Prior to VE, examiners had participated in a half-day training seminar on VE. After drying the specimens with compressed air, the following parameters were observed to determine the status of white-spots: shiny or dull, smooth or rough, and presence or absence of microcavity. For VE, data from the five examiners determined the status of each lesion, as active or inactive. If at least three examiners agreed on a status, that status was used. .QLFD values of the active white-spot group (n = 7) were compared with those of the inactive white-spot group (n = 27) by t-test. In general, active lesions presented larger values of .QLFD than inactive, although there were no differences in .FD and .SD. There were differences in .QD up to 6 s of dehydration, and no differences after 7 s. The results suggest that .QD can determine white-spot status using QLF during the first few seconds of dehydration. |