Differentiation of enamel lesion activity by vertical reflection intensity - a methodical description.

This article describes two objective, instrumental approaches for the distinction of enamel lesion activity - the in vitro measurement of surface layer porosity and surface roughness - and on this basis, the in vivo measurement of vertical reflection intensity (VRI). They are based on the subjective visual and tactile criteria of a dull and rough or a shiny and smooth surface, accepted by the known diagnostic systems, Nyvad criteria, International Caries Detection and Assessment System II, and Universal Visual Scoring System. With a scanning white-light interference microscope, the active lesion surface had a high porosity (118 pores) and a high roughness (Ra 190 nm) constituting a field of view of 280×210 μm.

Evaluation of perpendicular reflection intensity for assessment of caries lesion activity/inactivity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate, using visual assessment, an experimental optical sensor measuring perpendicular reflection intensity (PRI) as an indicator of enamel caries lesion activity/inactivity. Forty teeth with either an active or an inactive enamel lesion were selected from a pool of extracted teeth. Each tooth was cut into halves, with a clinically sound half and a half with a non-cavitated enamel lesion.