DETECTION OF CARIES AND COMPOSITE RESIN RESTORATIONS BY NEAR-INFRAREDRAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY

Near-infrared Raman spectra of sound tooth substance show characterist ic bands of its main components hydroxyapatite and collagen, and they are virtually free of luminescence, Spectra of carious tooth substance exhibit, in addition to the Raman bands, broadband luminescence with an intensity similar to that of the Raman scattering. It is assumed th at this luminescence is due to microbiological products. Raman spectra of tooth-colored composite resin restorations differ considerably fro m those of natural tooth substances and can therefore be used for spec troscopic detection of such restorations.