A thermal imaging handpiece for the clinical assessment of lesion activity on root surfaces via dehydration.

New imaging methods are needed to assess the activity of caries lesions on tooth surfaces. Recent studies have shown that thermal imaging of lesions on root surfaces during dehydration with air can be used to determine if the lesions are active or arrested. In this study changes in the thermal emission of root caries lesions on extracted teeth during dehydration with air was monitored using an imaging system with a miniature thermal camera and a 3D printed handpiece with an integrated air nozzle suitable for clinical use. This study evaluated the performance of the thermal camera for imaging root caries on extracted teeth prior to it's use for in vivo studies. There was a significant difference in the thermal response of sound and root lesion areas of human teeth under dehydration at constant airflow.