Real-time visualization of hidden occlusal and approximal lesions with an OCT dental handpiece (Conference Presentation)

Near infrared imaging methods, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), have shown promise in assessing activity of enamel caries lesions. We present initial results in ex-vivo dental samples with a polarization diversity-detection OCT system complete with an integrated dental handpiece. Built around an Axsun Technologies swept source engine, images B-scans 12(x) by 7(z) mm at over 100 fps with 66um transverse and 7um depth resolution. Internal normal dental structure and lesions were imaged and compared with micro-CT. We demonstrate that the Axsun OCT prototype can detect the penetration of occlusal lesions to dentin and measure the penetration of approximal lesions when imaging from the occlusal surface.