Optical coherence tomography's current clinical medical and dental applications: a review

F1000Res. 2021 Apr 22:10:310. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.52031.1. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive investigative technique that is used to obtain high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images of biological structures. This method is useful in diagnosing diseases of specific organs like the eye, where a direct biopsy cannot be conducted. Since its inception, significant advancements have been made in its technology. Apart from its initial application in ophthalmology for retinal imaging, substantial technological innovations in OCT brought by the research community have enabled its utilization beyond its original scope and allowed its application in many new clinical areas. This review presents a summary of the clinical applications of OCT in the field of medicine (ophthalmology, cardiology, otology, and dermatology) and dentistry (tissue imaging, detection of caries, analysis of dental polymer composite restorations, imaging of root canals, and diagnosis of oral cancer). In addition, potential advantages and disadvantages of OCT are also discussed.

Keywords: Dentistry; Imaging; Medicine; OCT; Optical coherence tomography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Mouth Neoplasms*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*

Grants and funding

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.