Method and system for detecting molar incisor hypomineralization using high resolution Raman analyses of tooth composition
A system and method provides in vivo identification of hypomineralization and distinction between enamel defects. Chemical composition measurements of enamel on a target surface of a tooth are obtained using a Raman spectroscope. A system creates an evaluation profile of the target surface by evaluating the Raman intensity associated values with both inorganic and organic components. A composite metric is calculated for the evaluation profile based on the values associated with the organic and inorganic components of the evaluation profile. The system can then identify hypomineralization and a type of enamel defect through proximity of the composite metric of the evaluation profile to a composite metric associated with known hypomineralization. If hypomineralization is identified, notice is provided to a user.
1 . A method for in vivo identification of hypomineralization and distinction between enamel defects, the method executed by a processor and comprising:
obtaining, in memory coupled to the processor, measurements of chemical composition and mineral properties of enamel on a target surface of a tooth in vivo from a Raman spectroscope;
creating an evaluation profile of the target surface by evaluating Raman spectra including derived measures for the obtained chemical composition measurements in the memory, the derived measures including at least one of peak positions, peak width, intensity values, and area under curve, and the evaluation profile being associated with at least one inorganic component selected from the group consisting of inorganic components PO4 3− and CO3 2− and the evaluation profile being further associated with at least one organic component selected from the group consisting of organic components C—H and SH;
calculating a composite metric of the evaluation profile based on measures derived from the Raman spectra associated with the at least one inorganic component and the at least one organic component of the evaluation profile;
identifying hypomineralization and discerning a type of enamel defect through proximity of the composite metric of the evaluation profile to a composite metric associated with known hypomineralization, the discerning the type of enamel defect through the proximity of the composite metric of the evaluation profile to the composite metric associated with known hypomineralization including distinguishing between fluorosis and molar hypomineralization, as characterized by demarcated opacity, wherein the molar hypomineralization comprises at least one of molar incisor hypomineralization, deciduous molar hypomineralization, hypomineralized primary incisors, hypomineralized first primary molars, hypomineralized second primary molars, hypomineralized permanent incisors, and hypomineralized permanent molars; and
responsive to identifying hypomineralization, providing notice to a user, via an interface on a display coupled to the processor.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing notice to the user of the type of enamel defect discerned.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining material density measurements of enamel on the target surface of the tooth, including enamel thickness towards underlying dentin,
wherein creating the evaluation profile further includes evaluating an extension of an enamel defect from the target surface of the tooth through the enamel thickness towards the underlying dentin; and
determining an indication of differences in type of hypomineralization characterized by a marked increase in reflectivity to healthy enamel.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the material density is obtained through data collection with a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) device.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein the material density and the chemical composition measurements are obtained with a non-invasive fiber optic sensor.
6 . The method of claim 1 further including:
obtaining an image of the tooth;
generating an adjusted image of the tooth highlighting an intensity value of the composite metric of the evaluation profile obtained at a particular portion of the tooth; and
displaying the adjusted image highlighting the intensity value of the composite metric.
7 . A system for in vivo identification of hypomineralization comprising:
a handheld device configured to obtain measurements of chemical composition and mineral properties of enamel on a surface of a tooth in vivo and store the obtained measurements in memory, wherein the obtained measurements are associated with at least one inorganic component selected from the group consisting of inorganic components PO4 3− and CO3 2− , and wherein the obtained measurements are further associated with at least one organic component selected from the group consisting of organic components C—H and SH;
a processor, coupled to the memory and configured to
i) create an evaluation profile by evaluating the Raman spectra including derived measures for the obtained chemical composition measurements in the memory, the derived measures including at least one of peak positions, peak width, intensity values, and area under curve, and the evaluation profile being associated with the at least one inorganic component and with the at least one organic component;
ii) calculate a composite metric of the evaluation profile based on measures derived from the Raman spectra associated with the at least one inorganic component and the at least one organic component of the evaluation profile;
iii) identify hypomineralization and discern a type of enamel defect through proximity of the composite metric of the evaluation profile to a composite metric associated with known hypomineralization; and
(iv) based on the proximity of the composite metric of the evaluation profile to the composite metric associated with known hypomineralization, distinguish between fluorosis and molar hypomineralization, as characterized by demarcated opacity, wherein the molar hypomineralization comprises at least one of molar incisor hypomineralization, deciduous molar hypomineralization, hypomineralized primary incisors, hypomineralized first primary molars, hypomineralized second primary molars, hypomineralized permanent incisors, and hypomineralized permanent molars; and
a display coupled to the processor and configured, responsive to identifying hypomineralization, to provide, via an interface on the display, notice to a user.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the interface is further configured to provide notice to the user of the type of enamel defect discerned.
9 . The system of claim 7 wherein:
the handheld device is further configured to obtain material density measurements of enamel on the surface of the tooth, including enamel thickness towards underlying dentin,
wherein the processor further evaluates an extension of an enamel defect from the surface of the tooth through the enamel thickness towards the underlying dentin; and
the processor further determines an indication of differences in type of hypomineralization characterized by a marked increase in reflectivity to healthy enamel.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the handheld device includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device.
11 . The system of claim 9 wherein the handheld device includes a non-invasive fiber optic sensor.
12 . The system of claim 7 further including:
an image acquisition device configured to obtain an image of the tooth; and
wherein the processor is further configured to generate an adjusted image of the tooth highlighting an intensity value of the composite metric of the evaluation profile obtained at a particular portion of the tooth, and display the adjusted image on the display.