High contrast reflectance imaging at 1950-nm for the assessment of lesion activity on extracted teeth

Abstract

Changes in the reflectivity of lesions on the proximal surfaces of extracted human teeth were measured at 1500-2340-nm and at 1950-nm as they were dried with air. An extended range tungsten-halogen lamp with a long pass filter (1500-2340-nm) and a broadband ASE source centered near the peak of the water-absorption band at 1950-nm were used as light sources and an extended range InGaAs camera (1000-2340-nm) was used to acquire reflected light images as the samples were dried with air. SWIR light at 1950-nm yields extremely high contrast of demineralization and appears to be the optimum wavelength for the assessment of lesion activity on tooth coronal surfaces.