Caries diagnosis by observation of Autofluorecence of dental caries using a Laser Fluorescence System

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The purpose of this study was to examine whether Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) is implicated in the generation of autofluorescence (AF) detected in carious lesions. Enamel surfaces and dentin cavities of extracted human teeth were subjected to artificial caries generation by exposing either to a culture medium containing S. mutans or to a lactic acid buffer. AF from the lesions were detected with confocal laser scanning microscopy or fluorescence microscopy at various excitation wavelengths. Results demonstrated that S. mutans-induced enamel and dentin lesions exhibited increased AF in the red and green spectral regions, with the signal stronger in the red region. In the blue region, however, AF signals in the corresponding area was below the background level. Significantly weaker or virtually no AF intensification was detected in lactic acid-demineralized lesions at any excitation wavelengths. Neither bacterial cells nor culture media generated any AF. These results indicate that, although the presence of S. mutans may be a prerequisite for the emission of AF signals from carious lesions, certain interaction of S. mutans with exposed tooth matrix elements may also be required for generation and/or unmasking of fluorophore(s).