Comparison of laser fluorescence and longitudinal microradiography for quantitative assessment of in vitro enamel caries.

A new quantitative, non-destructive method using laser-induced fluorescence (LAF) was compared with longitudinal microradiography (LMR) for assessment of mineral changes in enamel slices using an in vitro caries model. Ten enamel slices, cut longitudinally from sound natural smooth surfaces of human teeth, were exposed to de- and remineralization in a pH-cycling model. The enamel slices were subjected to LAF and LMR measurements before and at 2, 4, 7, and 9 days of demineralization. For LAF, the average fluorescence radiance decreased during the demineralization period with 11% by day 2 and 49% by day 9. For LMR, the corresponding average loss of mineral content changed with 0.01 and 0.10 kg.m-2 over the same time period. The mineral losses in each individual enamel slice measured with the two techniques were strongly correlated, r = 0.97. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient for all LAF and LMR demineralization results was 0.86. The precision (coefficient of variation) for LAF was 3.1%, corresponding to 0.005 kg.m-2, and the repeatability error for LMR was 0.02 kg.m-2, indicating a lower discrimination threshold for LAF compared to LMR. It was concluded that the new, sensitive, non-destructive LAF method provides possibilities for further improvement in the quantification of initial caries lesions in natural smooth enamel surfaces for use in in vitro studies. Furthermore, it offers potential in in situ caries studies as well as a tool in the diagnosis of early enamel caries in vivo.