Online ISSN: 2515-8260

QUANTITATIVE LIGHT-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE (QLF) IN ORTHODONTICS – A REVIEW

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Ravi S , Ferin Fathima, Pradeep S , I.Girish kumar, Bosy Thankam Mathew

Abstract

Oral hygiene maintenance is usually more strenuous in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy as food lodgement occurs in between bands and brackets . Within a month of treatment this can lead to loss of mineral content of enamel. Preventive measures along with reinforcement and clinical evaluation is necessary. Mineral loss can occur before a white spot becomes visible on the enamel surface. Loss of minerals usually diagnosed by the clinician with visual evaluation alone cannot identify the mineral loss. This article attempts to identify and evaluate QLF as a diagnostic apparatus to detect white spot lesions and as a oral hygiene reinforcement reinforcement tool. A QLF apparatus consists of a DSLR camera along with filters and lighting to produce images. The photograph obtained in then uploaded into the software for analysis of initial lesions. After which fluorescence of the surface can be quantitatively analysed comparing to the normal index of the enamel. QLF could be a new ally to the orthodontist to detect and prevent lesions at the earliest .

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