Innovations in Aiding Caries Detection: How Itero Near-Infrared Imaging Technology can Impact your Practice

Caries detection can often vary depending on the tooth surface in question. For occlusal pit and fissure lesions, visual and tactile detection can normally suffice. Bitewing radiographs have long been the most practiced method for detection of interproximal lesions, yet there are limitations, such as the inherent use of ionizing radiation for imaging, overlapping contacts, and unclear exposure contrast. Due to such considerations, alternative options for early caries detection have been sought after to supplement traditional radiographs. Some methods that have caught traction are based on the optical properties of tooth structure and include methods based on laser fluorescence as well as transillumination with near-infrared light. The focus of this paper will be on how near-infrared light has proven to be an effective method for aid in detecting interproximal caries.