34 - An Investigation in Quantifying Molar Hypomineralization using Light Spectrophotometry

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic potential of OCT and PTR/LUM imaging modalities for molar hypomineralization (MH) and correlate findings with qualitative indices to establish improved clinical guidelines for MH diagnosis.

Methods: Twenty-six extracted first permanent molars were collected from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. Standard photographs and radiographs were taken to replicated current clinical diagnostic approaches. Teeth were categorized into control, hypomineralized and other enamel defects groups, based on the modified dental defects of enamel (mDDE) index. OCT and PTR/LUM were used to scan each enamel defect, generating signal intensity and thermal scan data, respectively.

Results: Kappa analysis demonstrated substantial inter- (k=0.61) and intra- rater (k=0.70) agreement for visual classification using the mDDE index, while OCT scans also achieved substantial inter-rater agreement (k=0.66) in lesion classification. PTR/LUM scans showed high sensitivity (0.80) but low specificity (0.20) in identifying lesions.

Conclusions: MH remains an understudied condition with significant diagnostic challenges. This study highlights OCT’s ability to provide quantitative insights into hypomineralization severity. PTR/LUM shows promise as an adjunct tool for lesion identification. These findings support integration of advanced imaging technologies into diagnostic protocols for improved management of MH.