Baek Il Kim
Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
Title: New optical fluorescence technology for early detection of oral disease
Biography
Biography: Baek Il Kim
Abstract
The traditional paradigm of dentistry was a surgical model that visually detects late stage lesions and then removed them surgically. However, the new paradigm of dentistry suggests the detection of oral diseases in their earlier and the reversal of the early lesions by non-surgical approach. Over the past 20 years, there has been a significant development of technology to detect early dental caries and several devices already launched to dental market. Among these technologies, Quantitative Light Induced Fluorescence (QLF) conspicuously stands out among these devices. New QLF technology use quantitative visible light induced fluorescence system which can detect not only mineral loss of tooth but also the bacterial porphyrin induced fluorescence at high resolution. This system uses specific wavelength of blue visible light and special filter system for detection of fluorescence. This new technology can easily detect old dental biofilms and dental calculus by distinctive red fluorecence from reaction of bacterial porphyrin. This can also show and evaluate the minute changes in mineral contents from tooth enamel then suggest quantitative values for each lesion. Recently this technology has extended its area of clinical application to detect the tooth cracks and oral malodor. In this presentation, the fundamental concept of QLF and the possible clinical applications will be explained.