| Summary: | 博士 === 國立陽明大學 === 臨床牙醫學研究所 === 99 === Dental calculus has been recognized as the major cause of periodontitis, which is one of the main chronic infectious diseases of oral cavities and a principal cause of tooth loss in humans. Bacteria deposited in subgingival calculus or plaque cause gingival inflammation, function deterioration, and then periodontitis. However, subgingival calculus within the periodontal pocket is a complicated and potentially delicate structure to be detected with current dental armamentaria, namely dental x-rays and dental probes. Consequently, complete removal of subgingival calculus remains a challenge to periodontal therapies. In this study, the detection of subgingival calculus employing a multiphoton autofluorescence imaging method was characterized in comparison with a one-photon confocal fluorescence imaging technique. This characteristic gives multiphoton fluorescence microscopy technique the ability to discriminate against fluorescence originating from regions outside the focal plane. Feasibility of such a system was studied based on fluorescence response of gingiva, healthy teeth, and calculus with and without gingiva covered. The result of one-photon autofluorescence images showed that the contrast between healthy teeth, calculus, and gingiva was very low. The result of autofluorescence intensity from two-photon autofluorescence images showed a good contrast between healthy teeth, calculus, and gingiva: The fluorescence of healthy teeth and gingiva was very low when compared to that of calculus. Characteristics of two-photon fluorescence imaging technology were studied and the technique was employed on the detection of subgingival calculus. The multiphoton fluorescence technology perceived the tissue-covered subgingival calculus that cannot be observed by the one-photon confocal fluorescence method.
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