Work

Estimation of the water content of human teeth using near infrared spectroscopy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Detection of tooth caries using imaging at one or two NIR wavelengths is entering clinical practice, with imaging based on an increase in O-H overtone and combination features associated with increased porosity and water content in decayed or demineralised teeth, and/or change in light scattering with change in tooth porosity. Further consideration of the spectroscopy behind this application is warranted, given details of a NIR spectroscopy-based model for tooth water content has not been previously reported. A partial least squares regression model for tooth water content was developed using a second derivative pretreatment and five factors, achieving a cross validation R 2 of 0.91 and RMSECV of 0.4 % w/w, with model weightings consistent with reliance on O-H features. This result indicates that caries detection is likely based on (water) absorption rather than scattering features.

Source: Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy

DOI: 10.1177/09670335251387162

Authors: Nellie Elizabeth Pretorius, Alexander Forrest, Kerry Brian Walsh

Institutions: Central Queensland University, The University of Queensland

Language: English

Topic: Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses

Subfield: Analytical Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,150