High contrast dental imaging using a random fiber laser in backscattering configuration
Jia Guo, Weili Zhang, Yunjiang Rao, Hua Hui Zhang, Rui Ma, Daniela Siqueira Lopes, Izabella C. X. Lins, Anderson S. L. Gomes
Abstract
In this work, a backscattering imaging method based on near infrared random fiber laser is shown to provide a high contrast optical image between carious and sound enamel. The obtained contrast is 0.70, which is more than 8 times higher than the contrast obtained from radiographic imaging. Caries and cracks in enamel could clearly be identified against healthy enamel using the optical system. The near infrared wavelength, high spectral density and low coherence of random fiber laser contribute to its deep penetration, high brightness and low speckle contrast, using the method in a backscattering configuration opens potential clinical use.