The University of Manchester, Dental Health Unit, 3A Skelton House, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, M15 6SH, UK.
J Dent. 2010 Oct;38(10):788-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2010.06.010. Epub 2010 Jul 3.
To explore the applicability of thermal changes associated with dehydration for the detection and quantification of early tooth decay on occlusal surfaces using infrared imaging.
A total of 72 sites on 25 human teeth with various degrees of natural demineralisation have been used. Continuous evaporation of water inside the pores by pressurised air-drying is used to produce a thermodynamic response on the tooth surface. The temporal profile of the temperature will depend on the amount of water at each position and this is studied in relation to the degree of porosity and the lesion severity. The area enclosed by the time-temperature curve, DeltaQ, was then used for quantification of the lesion.
Maps of DeltaQ were obtained and histological examinations were performed for all teeth. A detection sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 87% for areas that are either sound or have a histological E1 lesion, 87% and 72% for areas that have either an E2 or EDJ lesion, and 58% and 83% for areas that have a lesion reaching the dentin was found using this method.
Thermal imaging shows the ability to discriminate, in vitro, between (a) either areas that are sound or with a lesion on the outer half of the enamel and (b) areas with a lesion extending to the middle of the enamel or deeper. However, variations of the temperature in an open mouth and humidity due to respiration can potentially challenge the ability of using this technique in vivo and this requires further investigation.
探索利用红外成像技术检测和量化釉质表面早期龋损时，与脱水相关的热变化的适用性。
共使用了 25 个人类牙齿的 72 个部位，这些牙齿具有不同程度的自然脱矿。通过加压空气干燥连续蒸发孔隙内的水分，在牙齿表面产生热力学响应。温度的时间曲线将取决于每个位置的水量，这与孔隙率和病变严重程度有关。然后，使用时间-温度曲线包围的面积 DeltaQ 来定量病变。
获得了 DeltaQ 的图谱，并对所有牙齿进行了组织学检查。使用该方法，对于无龋或组织学 E1 病变的区域，检测灵敏度为 77%，特异性为 87%；对于 E2 或 EDJ 病变的区域，检测灵敏度为 87%，特异性为 72%；对于病变延伸至牙本质的区域，检测灵敏度为 58%，特异性为 83%。
热成像显示了在体外区分（a）无龋或釉质外层有病变的区域与（b）病变延伸至釉质中部或更深的区域的能力。然而，在口腔张开和呼吸引起的湿度变化会对该技术在体内的应用能力构成挑战，这需要进一步研究。
