Non-invasive detection of periodontal loss of attachment using optical coherence tomography

TLDR: In this paper, a method of imaging periodontal loss of attachment based on time-domain optical coherence tomography is proposed and studied, based on measurements, boundaries of gingival tissue and tooth were seen separated by ≈ 0.3 mm.

Abstract: This study aims at developing a non-invasive technique to evaluate periodontal loss of attachment in the oral cavity. A method of imaging periodontal loss of attachment based on time-domain optical coherence tomography is proposed and studied. Based on measurements, boundaries of gingival tissue and tooth were seen separated by ≈0.3 mm. Further study is in progress to image the anatomical landmarks and evaluate the periodontal loss of attachment. The conventional time domain OCT systems acquisition speed is limited by the speed of the mechanical scanning system. In order to overcome this issue, a novel electro-optic based scanning system is proposed and demonstrated. Studies were performed initially with lithium niobate and potassium titanyl phosphate crystals and the tuning range observed were low. In order to increase the tuning range, a crystal with high electro-optic coefficient – potassium tantalite niobate was identified and experiments were carried out to characterise the crystal and electro-optic based phase tuning is demonstrated.