Advancing dental diagnostics with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography for early caries detection

The study investigated the correlation between conventional caries detection methods and polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), a non-invasive, radiation-free optical technique. Twenty Human extracted carious teeth were examined visually and radiographically by dentists, and PS-OCT images were acquired. Early detection of proximal lesions was achieved through intensity-based OCT cross-sectional images. The degree of polarization effectively distinguished proximal caries from healthy tooth structure. These results suggest potential for reducing invasive filling therapy by enabling early intervention opportunities. PS-OCT holds promise as a valuable tool for improved caries diagnosis and preventive dental care.