Application of information technologies and quantitative light-induced fluorescence for the assessment of early caries treatment outcomes

Information technologies (IT) and Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) are advanced technologies for dental caries detection, quantification and monitoring. Application of IT and QLF technologies to assess and monitor early dental caries stages are described in this article. In the prospective study 110 initial caries lesions in permanent teeth of 10-16 -year-old children were monitored during 12 months period after the treatment. Qraycam device based on QLF technology and Q-Ray software v.1.24 (AIOBIO, South Korea) was used to assess and quantify caries lesions before and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the treatment. Two treatment methods were randomly applied: caries infiltration (the first group) and peptide amelogenin application (the second group). Differences in the treatment outcomes between the groups were assessed by Student-t-test at p-value<0.05. Before the treatment mean values of fluorescence loss (AF 6) and demineralization maximum (AFmax o) in carious areas were similar in both groups. Visual and tactile dental examination during 12 months period after the treatment did not reveal any clinical signs of caries progression in both groups. However, QLF technology revealed significant differences between the treatment outcomes. In 12 months after the treatment, magnitudes of AF and AFmax reduction (cut-off) were significantly higher in the first group than in the second group: 28.45% versus 6.99%, p=0.003 and 31.31% versus 11.05% respectively, p=0.009. Due to QLF technology we were able to register various phases of initial caries lesions development: recovery or full remineralization (fluorescence loss decreased to zero), deterioration or progression of demineralization (fluorescence loss increased compared to background value), stabilization (the values of fluorescence loss were similar before and after the treatment). Within the limitations of this study we can conclude that new digital technologies have improved our possibilities in monitoring and evaluating initial caries lesions development during and after the treatment and in comparing different caries treatment methods outcomes.