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Clinical utility of biofluorescence imaging for detecting secondary caries beneath esthetic restorations

2026-06-10T02:13:23Z

Title: Clinical utility of biofluorescence imaging for detecting secondary caries beneath esthetic restorations Authors: Kang, Gwen Woung; Kim, Sang-Kyeom; Lee, Eun-Song; Kim, Baek-Il; 김상겸 Abstract: Secondary caries represents a major cause of failure in esthetic restorations; however, early lesions beneath restorations are difficult to detect using conventional visual and radiographic examinations. This case report presents two clinical cases in which Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) imaging with Qraypen C (AIOBIO, Seoul, Republic of Korea) was used to overcome the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods and to effectively diagnose and manage secondary caries beneath esthetic restorations. In the first case involving tooth #27 of a 34-year-old female patient, distinct red fluorescence in the QLF image corroborated the presence of deep secondary caries suspected on radiographs and facilitated the treatment planning for root canal therapy. In the second case involving tooth #16 of a 31-year-old female patient, localized red fluorescence detected exclusively on the QLF image guided early preventive intervention, confirming a previously undetectable subclinical lesion and preserving pulp vitality. QLF technology enables the early visualization of secondary caries that are difficult to detect clinically or radiographically, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy. By providing information on lesion activity, QLF supports clinical decision-making across a range of treatment strategies, from early intervention to endodontic therapy, and serves as a valuable tool for enhancing communication with patients.

Outcomes of Root Canal Treatment in Patients With Autoimmune Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

2026-06-10T05:55:37Z

Title: Outcomes of Root Canal Treatment in Patients With Autoimmune Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study Authors: Lee, Seoyeon; Kim, Euiseong; Jung, Hoiin; Kim, Hyejin; Kim, Sunil Abstract: Aim The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of nonsurgical root canal treatment (RCT) in patients with autoimmune diseases (AD) with the outcome in patients without AD. The null hypothesis was: there is no difference in the outcomes of RCT regardless of the patient group. Results were also compared among AD subgroups: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis (Ps).Methodology Data were obtained from a database using codes corresponding to the National Health Insurance Dental Fee Schedule. Patients diagnosed with AD who received primary RCT at the Veterans Health Service Medical Center from 2010 to 2022 formed the study group. Controls were matched using propensity score matching for age, sex, arch type, and tooth type. Preoperative periapical lesions, canal filling quality, and RCT outcomes were assessed through radiographs, including panoramic, periapical, and cone-beam computed tomography images. Outcomes were evaluated at approximately 1 year and at maximum follow-up. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to evaluate associations between AD and RCT success.Results The study included 203 ad patients (317 teeth) and 203 controls (312 teeth). At 1 year, success rates were 69.4% in AD patients and 73.7% in controls (p = 0.268). Within the AD group, success rates were 64.6% for IBD, 75.3% for RA, and 73.2% for Ps. Patients with IBD showed only statistical significance (p = 0.025). The mean observation duration for the maximum follow-up was approximately 50 months. Long-term success rates were 61.5% for AD and 66.0% for controls (p = 0.207). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that arch type, tooth type, and the presence of preoperative apical lesions were significant factors influencing the outcome of RCT. Comparing the 1-year and long-term outcomes, IBD, RA, and Ps showed a similar trend of decreased success rates, although the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions RCT success rates in patients with AD were comparable to those of controls. Multivariable analysis revealed that clinical factors were the primary predictors of success, rather than the presence of AD. Therefore, high-quality clinical procedures are the critical factor for favorable outcomes in AD patients.

AI-assisted age estimation from occlusal tooth wear using biofluorescence imaging

2026-05-12T08:35:49Z

Title: AI-assisted age estimation from occlusal tooth wear using biofluorescence imaging Authors: Kim, Sang-Kyeom; Lee, Eun-Song; Kim, Baek-Il Abstract: This proof-of-concept study evaluated the feasibility of an AI-based age estimation model using an occlusal tooth wear parameter (Delta F-wear) quantified from biofluorescence. Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images from 104 adults (20-70 years; 2,733 teeth) were analyzed. To prevent data leakage, the dataset was split at the participant level. A random forest (RF) regressor was optimized, and recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) identified efficient tooth subsets. Final models were validated using an independent test set, and correlations between mean Delta F-wear and chronological age were assessed. Cross-validation (CV) performance peaked with three teeth; however, independent testing showed that a model incorporating seven key teeth achieved the best generalization performance. This 7-tooth model achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.49 years (95% CI: 5.90-9.17), comparable to the full 28-tooth model (MAE: 7.27 years; p = 0.79), with a stronger Pearson correlation with age (r = 0.78 vs. 0.71) and an equivalent R-2 of 0.61. These findings support the feasibility of integrating Delta F-wear with an interpretable machine-learning framework for non-invasive age estimation. While the reduced 7-tooth model offers analytical efficiency, further validation in larger and more diverse cohorts is required to confirm its generalizability for broader forensic or epidemiological applications.

Associations Among Oral Health, Nutritional Status, and Care Dependency in Korean Long-Term Care Facilities

2026-03-17T05:57:20Z

Title: Associations Among Oral Health, Nutritional Status, and Care Dependency in Korean Long-Term Care Facilities Authors: Kim, Ha-Neul; Park, Hansol; Cha, Ji-Min; Lim, Jijun; Suh, Hyewon; Jung, Hoiin; Lim, Hee-Sook Abstract: Background: Korea's population is aging rapidly, yet the oral health and nutritional status of long-term care facility residents remain limited in terms of systematic management and research, despite its importance to quality of life. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the oral health and nutritional status of older adults in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) according to their Long-Term Care (LTC) grades and to examine the interrelationship between these two factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 older adults aged 65 years or older residing in two public long-term care facilities in Korea. Participants were classified into an institution-based benefits group (Grades 1-2) and a home-based benefits group (Grades 3-5) according to their Long-Term Care (LTC) grades. Oral health status, including oral hygiene management, chewing ability, and oral dryness, and nutritional status, assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), were evaluated. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify oral health factors affecting MNA scores. Results: The institution-based group showed significantly poorer physical function, oral hygiene behavior, chewing ability, and nutritional status compared to the home-based group. Malnutrition was observed in 73.9% of the institution-based group versus 26.9% in the home-based group (p<0.001). Regression analysis identified significant predictors of nutritional status: oral dryness (p<0.001), chewing ability (p=0.001), oral care dependency (p=0.024), plaque or calculus (p=0.025), and food debris (p=0.016). Conclusion: Oral health significantly impacts nutritional status among older adults in LTCFs. Those with higher LTC grades are at greater risk of both oral and nutritional deterioration. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated, multidisciplinary care approaches addressing oral health and nutrition concurrently in LTC settings.