Fluorescence diagnostics of dental erosion

In this article the prospects of applying the method
of laser-induced fluorescence to the diagnostics
of dental erosion at the initial stages has been
investigated. It was found that at the initial stages
of erosion development, the fluorescence intensity of
eroded enamel was considerably higher than that of
the intact enamel (no less than by 50%). Absorption
spectrum of the affected enamel was observed to differ
significantly from absorption spectrum of the intact
enamel, as the localization of the main peaks changed
significantly. To prove this hypothesis, investigations
were performed in vivo on 60 patients at the early
stage of erosion according to the preliminary clinical
examinations. Fluorescence spectra of dental enamel
were obtained from the intact and eroded areas of a
tooth. Fluorescence spectrum from the intact area of
a tooth was used as an indicator of spectral changes
caused by pathological processes. These investigations
were carried out using the method of LIF (laser-induced
fluorescence). Also, the analysis of IR reflection spectra
of dental enamel was performed for the extracted teeth
in vitro. This made it possible to reveal deviations in
stoichiometry of the chemical components forming the
composition of dental enamel. The obtained results
are very important for the investigation of mechanism
of dental hard tissues fluorescence as well as for the
prospective practical application of the method of
laser-induced fluorescence to the diagnostics of dental
erosion at initial stages.