SmartBrush for Non-invasive Dental Plaque Detection using Auto-fluorescence and Multispectral Imaging
Background
The oral cavity harbors around 700 different types of bacteria, forming one of the most complex bacterial communities in the human body. Inadequate oral care can lead to various diseases caused by oral bacteria, such as:
-
Periodontitis,
-
Oralcancer,
-
Diabetes,
-
Cardiovascular diseases
Therefore, assessing the oral bacterial community becomes crucial. Conventional bacterial assessment relies on subjective visual inspection, resulting in variable outcomes based on clinician expertise highlighting the need for label-free and non- invasive alternatives.
Research Objective​
-
​To implement the multispectral image processing algorithm in a smartphone to image an auto-fluorescence RGB image and detect the presence of porphyrin, a fluorescing indicator of bacterial metabolism.
-
Design a probe SmartBrush, to enable easier access into the oral cavity for capturing images.
​
​
Method
Results
The reconstructed multispectral auto-fluorescence data cube at different wavelengths (500 – 650nm) of volunteer 1 is shown in Fig. 2. The plaque around the teeth that fluorescence yellowish-red are highlighted especially between 600 and 650 nm in the multispectral images, which matches well with porphyrin fluorescence spectrum3. With a purposely designed algorithm, bacteria is contrasted from the background normal tissue in a healthy subject. (Fig.3)
​
Conclusion
This non-invasive approach using a SmartBrush, and a smartphone empowers objective decision-making in dental care and equips clinicians with valuable insights into a patient's oral health. By enabling proactive measures, this solution holds the potential to revolutionize oral healthcare practices and improve overall well- being.