Quantitative in vivo monitoring of early erosion-associated enamel optical changes using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the capability of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to detect early erosion-associated enamel optical changes in vivo following repeated erosive challenges under clinically relevant oral conditions and to assess the influence of salivary stimulation through chewing gum. Materials and Methods Twenty-two healthy adults participated in a two-phase longitudinal study involving repeated orange juice erosive challenges over three consecutive days. Participants underwent both phases sequentially using a fixed-order design. In Phase A, no post-exposure chewing gum stimulation was performed, whereas in Phase B, chewing gum stimulation was introduced following each erosive challenge. SS-OCT imaging was performed at six daily time points (t1–t6). Integrated reflectivity (IR), derived from A-scan analysis, was used to quantify changes in enamel backscattering. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and linear mixed-effects modelling (α = 0.05). Results Paired comparisons demonstrated a significant increase in IR on Day 3 of Phase B (p = 0.012), whereas no significant differences were observed for other individual comparisons. However, longitudinal mixed-effects modelling incorporating all repeated measurements demonstrated significantly higher IR values on Day 2 (β = 4.52 × 10⁹, p = 0.006) and Day 3 (β = 5.83 × 10⁹, p < 0.001) compared with Day 1. No significant overall phase effect was identified, suggesting that the observed optical changes were primarily associated with repeated erosive exposure rather than chewing gum stimulation. Conclusions SS-OCT detected cumulative increases in enamel integrated reflectivity following repeated erosive challenges in vivo. Although direct paired comparisons demonstrated limited statistical significance, longitudinal analysis identified progressive enamel optical alterations over time. These findings support the potential utility of SS-OCT as a non-invasive tool for monitoring early erosion-associated enamel changes. Further studies incorporating direct mineral validation, repeatability assessment, and longer-term clinical evaluation are warranted to establish its clinical applicability. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07690644, 1 July 2026 (first submitted). Retrospectively registered.
Source: BMC Oral Health
Institutions: University of Malaya, National University
Language: English
Topic: Dental Erosion and Treatment
Subfield: Orthodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7203797372