Thursday, July 16, 2009

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF RESTORED TEETH

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF RESTORED TEETH
While intraoral radiographs are highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing primary caries, they are less reliable in the detection of recurrent caries around existing restorations. OCT offers a potentially more sensitive method for detecting recurrent caries. Moreover, images of the fit and marginal adaptation restoration margins can be made and quantified.
An OCT image of the margin of a cemented, functional porcelain-fused-to-metal crown .The marginal adaptation of the metal coping to the cavosurface margin is easily identified, and the internal contours of the restoration and various enamel layers can be seen.
The intact enamel marginal ridge and the cavosurface marginal adaptation are easily identified. The dentin-composite interface and the contour of the occlusal floor of the preparation also are seen.
CONCLUSION
We have constructed a prototype clinical dental OCT system and have demonstrated the feasibility of using it in a clinical setting. Our research to date has shown that OCT is a powerful method for generating high-resolution, cross-sectional images of oral structures. We have used OCT to take images of the teeth, locate soft- and hard-tissue boundaries of the periodontium and evaluate restoration margins. Our goals in our ongoing research are to characterize normal dental structures using OCT and verify that this new technology can be used to take images of and quantify common dental problems including caries, defective restorations and periodontal disease.
Twisted optical fibres : it's time to think chiral
Taking inspiration from the helical-shaped designs found in nature, Chiral Photonics is adding a new twist to optical technologies. Dan Neugroschl, the company's president, tells Marie Freebody about the unique ways in which light interacts with chiral structures.

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