Dental Imaging

Prof Girkin has a long track record in developing novel optical instrumentation for detecting early caries (dental disease). These have focused on using near infrared light which passes along the enamel rods (or prisms) within the tooth. In early disease these rods are disturbed leading to light be scattered back to the viewer as a white spot on a generally white background in the visible but can be quantified when using infrared light. A range of different forms of imaging are under investigation and looking for an opportunity to move towards clinical evaluation.

Two photon images of dental disease within an intact tooth using infrared light

Infrared transmission through an extracted tooth.

Clinically acceptable instrument