pH Mapping on Tooth Surfaces for Quantitative Caries Diagnosis Using Micro Ir/IrOx pH Sensor
- Journal:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00867
- Affiliations:
- 2
- Authors:
- 8
Research Highlight
Probing tooth decay using pH
© SCIEPRO/Science Photo Library/Getty
Using cumbersome dental X-ray machines to diagnose tooth decay could become a thing of the past, thanks to a simple technique that detects local pH changes.
When bacteria and carbohydrates interact on the surface of a tooth, acidic molecules that destroy the dental enamel and dentin underneath are generated. A drop in pH, therefore, can indicate bacterial activity, tooth decay, or cavities.
Researchers from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University have now developed a microscopic iridium-based sensor that detects tooth decay through surface pH measurements. The needle-shaped sensor can identify treated and active sites of decay in various pH-dependent states. Specifically, it discriminates the early cavity-free stage of tooth decay from the beginning of a cavity — an impossible feat for X-ray. Combining this quantitative information with visual inspection is expected to provide a more reliable and accurate assessment of tooth decay.
References
- Analytical Chemistry 90, 4925–4931 (2018). doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00867
Institutions | Authors | Share |
---|---|---|
Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Japan | 1.00 |