Analysis of photodynamic cream effect in dental caries using optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to asse ss the effect in the enamel demineralization of low-intensity infrared laser (=810 ×nm, 100 mW/cm 2 , 90 ×sec, 4.47 ×J/cm 2 , 9 ×J) with or without photodynamic cream fluorinated or not fluorinated, using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Background data: Lasers can be usedas tools for the prevention of tooth enamel demineralization. All enamel specimens (n= 105) were analyzed using OCT at baseline, and randomly assigned into sevengroups ( n=15): C (+), laser application; C(-), no treatme nt; (F), acid fluoride ge l; cream (IV); cream and neutral fluoride (IVF); cream and laser (IVL); and cream with neutral fluoride+ laser (IVFL). Thespecimens were submitted to all kind of treatments be fore demineralizing pH cycling challenge and werereanalyzed.ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparative analysis (p <0.01) demonstrated a greater delta attenuationbetween baseline and post challenge for C + (0.034 ± 0.011) compared to IVF (0.016 ± 0.007) F (0.018 ± 0.010) IVFL (0.019 ± 0.008), and IVL (0.014 ± 0.010). The cream laser group (IVL) also showed lower delta (0.014 ± 0.010) compared to C - (0.025 ± 0.008). The OCT technique demonstrated that cream associated with laser showed the lowest quantitative enamel mineral looses after cariogenic challenge.Keywords: Tooth; Dental Caries; Lasers; Dental Enamel; Fluorine Compounds; Tomography; Demineralization; Prevention, Control; Tomography, Optical.1. INTRODUCTION Despite the decline in its prevalence, tooth decay remains a disease with alarmingepidemiological data and has become a polarized disease