Time-correlated single-photon counting fluorescence lifetime confocal imaging of decayed and sound dental structures with a white-light supercontinuum source

J Microsc. 2007 Feb;225(Pt 2):126-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2007.01724.x.

Abstract

We report the demonstration of time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to ex vivo decayed and healthy dentinal tooth structures, using a white-light supercontinuum excitation source. By using a 100 fs-pulsed Ti:Sapphire laser with a low-frequency chirp to pump a 30-cm long section of photonic crystal fibre, a ps-pulsed white-light supercontinuum was created. Optical bandpass interference filters were then applied to this broad-bandwidth source to select the 488-nm excitation wavelength required to perform TCSPC FLIM of dental structures. Decayed dentine showed significantly shorter lifetimes, discriminating it from healthy tissue and hard, stained and thus affected but non-infected material. The white-light generation source provides a flexible method of producing variable-bandwidth visible and ps-pulsed light for TCSPC FLIM. The results from the dental tissue indicate a potential method of discriminating diseased tissue from sound, but stained tissue, which could be of crucial importance in limiting tissue resection during preparation for clinical restorations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dental Caries / pathology*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation
  • Tooth / anatomy & histology*