NIR imaging methods do not require ionizing radiation and have great potential for detecting caries lesions (tooth decay) on high-risk proximal and occlusal tooth surfaces and at the earliest stages of development. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies at 1300-nm demonstrated that high contrast reflectance and transillumination images could be acquired of caries lesions on tooth proximal and occlusal surfaces where most new decay is found. Water absorption varies markedly between 1200 and 1600-nm and the scattering properties of enamel and the underlying dentin have not been characterized in this region. Hyperspectral reflectance studies show lower reflectivity from sound enamel and dentin at NIR wavelengths with higher water absorption. The purpose of this imaging study was to determine which NIR wavelengths between 1200 and 1600-nm provide the highest contrast of demineralization or caries lesions for each of the different modes of NIR imaging, including transillumination of proximal and occlusal surfaces along with cross polarization reflectance measurements. A tungsten halogen lamp with several spectral filters and a Ge-enhanced CMOS focal plane array (FPA) sensitive from 400 to 1600-nm were used to acquire the images of caries lesions on extracted teeth. Artificial interproximal lesions were created on twelve tooth sections of 5 & 6-mm thickness that were used for transillumination imaging. Fifty-four extracted teeth with suspected occlusal lesions were also examined in both occlusal transillumination and reflectance imaging modes. Cavity preparations were also cut into whole teeth and filled with composite and used to compare the contrast between composite and enamel at NIR wavelengths. NIR wavelengths longer than 1400-nm are likely to have better performance for the transillumination of occlusal caries lesions while 1300-nm appears best for the transillumination of proximal surfaces. Loss of mobile water in enamel markedly reduced the transparency of the enamel at all NIR wavelengths. Significantly higher contrast was attained for reflectance measurements at wavelengths that have higher water absorption, namely 1460-nm. Wavelengths with higher water absorption also provided higher contrast of composite restorations.
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