Effect of Biofilm Removal from the Occlusal Tooth Surfaces on Fluorescence Measurements. A Clinical Study

  • Fabrizio Guerra Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Marta Mazur Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Denise Corridore Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Francesca Rinaldo Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Artnora Ndokaj Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Debora Pasqualotto Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Daniele Salvi Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Livia Ottolenghi Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
  • Gianna Maria Nardi Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Keywords: Occlusal caries, Fluorescence-based camera, air-polishing, VistaCam iX Proof

Abstract

Aim Early diagnosis and monitoring of caries lesions are the most important issues of primary and secondary prevention policies. The intraoral Vista Cam iX (Durr Dental, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany) uses the fluorescence phenomenon for a non-invasive, quantitative caries diagnosis. In order to make a precise evaluation the tooth surface must be completely cleaned and without biofilm. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of biofilm removal, using air-polishing device (Combi, Mectron SpA) with glycine, on fluorescence VistaCam iX camera quantitative measurements of caries.

Methods Patients with complete permanent dentition without any kind of restorative treatments in the lateral and posterior section of upper and lower dental arches were enrolled. The occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars were photographed using the fluorescence terminal Proof of the intraoral camera VistaCam iX before and after air polishing glycine procedures, registering the highest value gained for each occlusal surface.

Results 133 cuspidate permanent teeth of patients aged between 13 and 25were analyzed. Descriptive analysis showed an average of 0.82 (SD= 0.65; Min= 0.00; Max= 1.80; Median= 1.20) and of 0.93 (SD= 0.60; Min= 0.00; Max= 1.70; Median=1.20) for values before and after treatment, respectively. The scores assigned by VistaCam iX Proof fluorescence based camera to the occlusal surfaces, after the air-polishing treatment, are averagely higher than those before treatment, especially in the diagnosis of initial tooth decay.

Conclusions Biofilm removal with glycine air-polishing improves the VistaCam camera accuracy in recognizing healthy tissue from the decayed one, due to the fact that air-polishing treatment increases the decayed tissue reaction to the fluorescence.

Published
2018-03-31