Is the red fluorescence of dental plaque related to its cariogenicity?

It has been speculated that the red fluorescence emitted by dental plaque could be related to its cariogenicity. To test this hypothesis, we designed this crossover in situ study, with two experimental phases of 14 days each. Seventeen volunteers, wearing a palatal appliance with bovine enamel block...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical optics 2014-06, Vol.19 (6), p.065004-065004
Main Authors: Bittar, Daniela G, Pontes, Laura Regina A, Calvo, Ana Flávia B, Novaes, Tatiane F, Braga, Mariana M, Freitas, Patrícia M, Tabchoury, Cinthia P. M, Mendes, Fausto M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Cattle
Color
Cross sections
Cross-Over Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dental Caries - diagnosis
Dental Caries - pathology
Dental Enamel - pathology
Diagnostic Imaging - methods
Emittance
Enamels
Female
Fluorescence
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Microhardness
Minerals
Multilevel
Optics and Photonics
Phases
Sucrose - chemistry
Time Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:It has been speculated that the red fluorescence emitted by dental plaque could be related to its cariogenicity. To test this hypothesis, we designed this crossover in situ study, with two experimental phases of 14 days each. Seventeen volunteers, wearing a palatal appliance with bovine enamel blocks, were instructed to drip a 20% sucrose solution (experimental group) or purified water (control group) onto the enamel blocks eight times daily. The specimens were removed after 4, 7, 10, and 14 days, and the red fluorescence of dental plaque formed on the enamel blocks was assessed using a quantitative light-induced fluorescence device. After the plaque removal, surface and cross-sectional microhardness tests were performed to assess the mineral loss. The comparisons were made by a multilevel linear regression analysis. We observed a significant increase in the red fluorescence of the dental plaque after longer periods of formation, but this trend was verified in both groups. The mineral loss assessed by the microhardness techniques, contrariwise, showed a significant increase only in the experimental group. In conclusion, the red fluorescence emitted by the dental plaque indicates a mature biofilm, but this fact is not necessarily associated with its cariogenicity.
ISSN:1083-3668
1560-2281
DOI:10.1117/1.JBO.19.6.065004