Viewing Dentistry in a New Light

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <title>Viewing Dentistry in a New Light | UC San Francisco</title> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="A new technology uses near-infrared light to better detect cavities without the radiation of X-rays. It's one of several innovations that could soon change your dental chair experience." /> <meta name="abstract" content="A new technology uses near-infrared light to better detect cavities without the radiation of X-rays. It's one of several innovations that could soon change your dental chair experience." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/ucsf_hospitals_day2-19.nh_.jpg" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Viewing Dentistry in a New Light | UC San Francisco" /> <meta property="og:type" content="news" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Viewing Dentistry in a New Light" /> <meta property="og:description" content="A new technology uses near-infrared light to better detect cavities without the radiation of X-rays. It's one of several innovations that could soon change your dental chair experience." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/ucsf_hospitals_day2-19.nh_.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/ucsf_hospitals_day2-19.nh_.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta property="article:author" content="Ker Than" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="A new technology uses near-infrared light to better detect cavities without the radiation of X-rays. It's one of several innovations that could soon change your dental chair experience." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Viewing Dentistry in a New Light" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/ucsf_hospitals_day2-19.nh_.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="||||" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="rSaM6CprJQndLnVGSxg0oZ-oB85lajeVcjE1fQzK1-I" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Viewing Dentistry in a New Light", "name": "Viewing Dentistry in a New Light | UC San Francisco", "description": "A new technology uses near-infrared light to better detect cavities without the radiation of X-rays. It\u0027s one of several innovations that could soon change your dental chair experience.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/ucsf_hospitals_day2-19.nh_.jpg", "width": "940", "height": "481" }, "datePublished": "2014-07-25T01:15:00-0700", "dateModified": "2014-07-25T01:15:00-0700", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" } ] }</script> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_title" content="Viewing Dentistry in a New Light" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_type" content="article" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:page_type" content="node page" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:language" content="en" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_section" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_keywords" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:post_id" content="116136" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_uuid" content="65fe24d8-313e-4e86-9864-ea6965c85727" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:published_date" content="1406276100" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:persona" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:engagement_score" content="1" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:account_id" content="UCSF" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:site_id" content="ucsfedu" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftAssetsURL" content="https://builder.lift.acquia.com" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftDecisionAPIURL" content="https://us.perz-api.cloudservices.acquia.io" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:bootstrapMode" content="auto" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:contentReplacementMode" content="trusted" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:apiVersion" content="v3" /> <script src="https://builder.lift.acquia.com/lift.js" async></script> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/GranjonLTW01-Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-45Light.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-55Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-56Italic.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-65Medium.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW06-75Bold.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?snbnwj" defer></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_1M6X16-toc9kPsDUV7f1fRiXXjEbDp_DX8NYskiSeKQ.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_AtM_E5Np4qH6kllFrKwKaP_grs1557X2sffEIfvHsjw.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8" /> <script>if (!window.customElements) { document.write(' <script type="text/javascript" src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/custom-elements-es5-adapter.js"></script>  <script src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/webcomponents-loader.js?snbnwj"></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-data-layer.js?snbnwj" defer></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-mag-marketing-data-layer.js?snbnwj" defer></script> <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/db5f13cb240b/b1130ce1ceae/launch-db8f55f3e131.min.js" defer></script> </head> <body class="alias-news-2014-07-116136-viewing-dentistry-new-light path-node page-node-type-article loading"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Skip to main content </a> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TSHCJ6" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div class="page"> <header class="combined-header-region "> <section class="universal-header-region"> <div class="universal-header"> <p id="site-name" class="universal-header__title">University of California San Francisco</p> <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu" class="universal-header__give">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </section> <section class="header-region"> <div class="header "> <figure class="header--logo logo"> <a class="logo__link" href="/" title="Home" rel="home"> <picture class="logo__image"> <img fetchpriority="high" class="logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/logo.svg" alt="Home" height="41" width="83"> </picture> </a> </figure> <div class="header--search menu-item"><a href="/search" role="button" class="nolink mobile-search-reveal "><span>Search</span></a> <div class="home-search__form "> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-search" class="visually-hidden">Small screen search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input " value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit-header" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit "> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label for="allucsf"> <input id="allucsf" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label for="newscenter"> <input id="newscenter" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> <div class="slicknav-placeholder"></div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-menu--mobile main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="menu-parent-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">About</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481">Mission & Values</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Our Impact</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636">Achievements</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629">UCSF in the Community</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484">History</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Facts & Figures</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036">Budget</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691">Inventions & Entrepreneurship</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-03/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-March-2024.pdf" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Fact Sheet</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Administration</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet" target="_blank">Campus Leaders</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/cgr" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347">Community & Government Relations</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Finance & Administrative Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Legal Affairs</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371">Office of Communications</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">University Development & Alumni Relations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Locations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Patient Care</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Health</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Dental Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Specialty Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456">Clinical Trials</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Research</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491">Partnerships</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Office of Research</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Innovation Ventures</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Postdoctoral Scholars</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Education</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171">Admissions</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Schools & Programs</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Dentistry</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Medicine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Pharmacy</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Nursing</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Graduate Division</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Global Health Sciences</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Resources for Students</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Academic Calendar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Career Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Financial Aid</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">General Catalog</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Registrar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Student Success Guide</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">News & Media</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">UCSF News Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411">UCSF Magazine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/campus-news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006">Campus News</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496">Media Coverage</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226">Resources for Journalists</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search menu-top-level__item" > <a href="/search" class="main-navigation__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="search">Search</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="main-nav__menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-about-menu" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false > About </button> <div id="aria-about-menu" aria-labelledby="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false> Close About menu. </button> <div data-section="section-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label-text">About</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481"> <span>Mission & Values</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-our-impact" aria-controls="aria-our-impact" aria-expanded=false > Our Impact </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-our-impact" aria-labelledby="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label-text">Our Impact</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636"> <span>Achievements</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629"> <span>UCSF in the Community</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484"> <span>History</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-facts--figures" aria-controls="aria-facts--figures" aria-expanded=false > Facts & Figures </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-facts--figures" aria-labelledby="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label-text">Facts & Figures</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036"> <span>Budget</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691"> <span>Inventions & Entrepreneurship</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-03/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-March-2024.pdf"> <span>UCSF Fact Sheet</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-administration" aria-controls="aria-administration" aria-expanded=false > Administration </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-administration" aria-labelledby="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-administration" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu__label-text">Administration</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet"> <span>Campus Leaders</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor"> <span>Chancellor</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/cgr" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347"> <span>Community & Government Relations</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Diversity & Outreach</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Finance & Administrative Services</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Legal Affairs</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371"> <span>Office of Communications</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/"> <span>University Development & Alumni Relations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416"> <span>Locations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-patient-care" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false > Patient Care </button> <div id="aria-patient-care" aria-labelledby="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false> Close Patient Care menu. </button> <div data-section="section-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label-text">Patient Care</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/"> <span>UCSF Health</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/"> <span>UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/"> <span>UCSF Dental Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc"> <span>Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics"> <span>Specialty Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456"> <span>Clinical Trials</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-research" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false > Research </button> <div id="aria-research" aria-labelledby="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false> Close Research menu. </button> <div data-section="section-research" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu__label-text">Research</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491"> <span>Partnerships</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu"> <span>Office of Research</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Innovation Ventures</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Postdoctoral Scholars</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-education" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false > Education </button> <div id="aria-education" aria-labelledby="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false> Close Education menu. </button> <div data-section="section-education" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu__label-text">Education</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171"> <span>Admissions</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-schools--programs" aria-controls="aria-schools--programs" aria-expanded=false > Schools & Programs </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-schools--programs" aria-labelledby="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label-text">Schools & Programs</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry"> <span>School of Dentistry</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine"> <span>School of Medicine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy"> <span>School of Pharmacy</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing"> <span>School of Nursing</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education"> <span>Graduate Division</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences"> <span>Global Health Sciences</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-resources-for-students" aria-controls="aria-resources-for-students" aria-expanded=false > Resources for Students </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-resources-for-students" aria-labelledby="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label-text">Resources for Students</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar"> <span>Academic Calendar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Career Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Financial Aid</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/"> <span>General Catalog</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Library</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Registrar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Student Success Guide</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-news--media" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false > News & Media </button> <div id="aria-news--media" aria-labelledby="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false> Close News & Media menu. </button> <div data-section="section-news--media" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu__label-text">News & Media</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561"> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411"> <span>UCSF Magazine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/campus-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006"> <span>Campus News</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496"> <span>Media Coverage</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226"> <span>Resources for Journalists</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-search-menu" aria-controls="aria-search-menu" aria-expanded=false > Open or Close Search Form </button> <div id="aria-search-menu" class="main-submenu main-nav__search"> <div class="home-search__form"> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-desktop-search" class="visually-hidden">search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-desktop-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input" value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit"> </form> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </section> </header> <div class="help"> <div class="region-highlighted"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="region-content"> <div id="block-ucsf-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <main class="main "> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <figure data-history-node-id="116136" class="article-medium-banner"> </figure> <div class="main-content narrow-page"> <header class="article-header "> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-07-25T01:15:00Z" class="datetime"> July 24, 2014 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h1><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Viewing Dentistry in a New Light</span> </h1> <p class="article-header__author"> By Ker Than </p> </header> <ul class="article-meta-share"> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"><span class="fab fa-facebook-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.twitter.com/share?text=Viewing Dentistry in a New Light&url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter"><span class="fa-brands fa-square-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light&title=Viewing Dentistry in a New Light" target="_blank" title="Share on Reddit"><span class="fab fa-reddit-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Reddit</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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" title="Email this article"><span class="fas fa-envelope-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Email this article</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" onclick="window.print();return false;" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/07/116136/viewing-dentistry-new-light" title="Print this article"><span class="fas fa-print"></span> <span class="indent-text">Print this article</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="page_narrow"><div class="wysiwyg-full"> <figure class="image image-2014_wysiwyg_full"><img alt="dentist working in the clinic" src="/sites/default/files/styles/2014_wysiwyg_full/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/dentistrymain.jpg?itok=DpvmLHwA"><figcaption>Jesmine Boghawala DDS, MPA, BDS, works with a patient at the UCSF Dental Clinic.<em> Photo by Elena Zhukova</em></figcaption></figure> '</div> <div style="width:85%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"> <p><span style="font-size:19px"><span style="color:#406a72">Everything is going high-tech – even in the dentist’s chair.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:19px"><span style="color:#406a72">New tools are coming soon that could replace traditional dental X-rays, screen for “hidden cavities” and avoid painful extractions.</span></span></p> </div> <p> </p> <div style="width:500px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"> <hr></div> <p>Dental X-rays expose patients to radiation, require time to process, and can only “see” a limited amount inside the mouth.</p> <p>Now new optical techniques developed by UC San Francisco’s <a href="http://profiles.ucsf.edu/daniel.fried">Daniel Fried</a>, PhD, use light to take instantaneous digital images that can provide a better picture of our teeth and could one day zap cavities with pinpoint precision.</p> <div class="ckimagebox" style="float: left; width: 360px;"> <p><img alt class="image-400w" src="/sites/default/files/styles/400w/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/fried6.jpg?itok=q3fgMusE" style="width: 360px;"></p> <p>Daniel Fried, PhD, speaks with Leon Chung, a dental research fellow in his lab. <em>Photo by Susan Merrell</em></p> </div> <p>Fried, a professor in the School of Dentistry’s Division of Biomaterials and Bioengineering in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, is a leading expert in a relatively new field of light-based dentistry, called biophotonics. It uses optical techniques such as near-infrared lasers and spectroscopy for imaging and therapy.</p> <p>“The field is strongly moving in the direction of what we call minimally invasive dentistry,” said John Featherstone, dean of the School of Dentistry, “and the technologies being developed by Dan’s team are a key part of that philosophy.”</p> <h2><span style="color:#406a72">Early Detection is Key</span></h2> <p>One of those technologies, called optical coherence tomography (OCT), uses near-infrared light – a wavelength of light invisible to humans – to create high-resolution, 3-D images of teeth.</p> <p>OCT was popular in ophthalmology for displaying retinal structures, but research by Fried and his colleagues, <a href="http://profiles.ucsf.edu/cynthia.darling">Cynthia Darling</a>, PhD, and <a href="http://profiles.ucsf.edu/michal.staninec">Michal Staninec</a>, DDS, PhD, demonstrated it could successfully be applied to dentistry for detecting damaged areas, or lesions, in teeth. The researchers showed that the technique was as good or better than X-rays for the early diagnosis of tooth decay.</p> <div class="ckimagebox" style="float: left; width: 400px;"> <p><img alt class="image-400w" src="/sites/default/files/styles/400w/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/fried1.jpg?itok=VUOhTJ9D" style="height: 267px; width: 400px;"></p> <p>Michael Staninec (left), DDS, PhD, and Jacob Simon, a staff research associate, test out a device that uses optical coherence tomography, which uses near-infrared light to view cavities in teeth better than traditional X-rays. <em>Photo by Susan Merrell</em></p> </div> <p>"Tooth enamel is almost completely transparent in the near-infrared," Fried said. "We showed that you could take an OCT image of a lesion and tell how severe it is.” Previously the only option was to extract the tooth and cut it open for closer inspection.</p> <p>Fried and his collaborators also have shown that OCT is useful for monitoring cavities while they are healing.</p> <p>"Dental decay isn't like cancer. You can actually treat it, arrest it and even reverse it,” Fried said. “If you spot the lesions early enough, you can treat them with fluoride and re-mineralize them, and you can measure this with OCT. It gives the clinician a way of telling whether the chemical intervention is working.”</p> <p>While widespread in other medical fields, OCT is just beginning to make its way into dental offices.</p> <p>“It’s very new technology,” Fried said. “The first commercial system was only introduced this year.”</p> <h2><span style="color:#406a72">A Return to Dentistry’s Roots</span></h2> <p>More recently, Fried's research has focused on identifying the wavelengths of near-infrared light that are ideal for screening "hidden" cavities in the pits and fissures of posterior teeth, which are difficult to detect in their early stages using conventional radiography techniques.</p> <div class="ckgreybox" style="background-color:#406a72; float:right; width:300px;"> <h3><span style="color:#DCEBED">Next-Generation Dental Innovations</span></h3> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Research is a cornerstone of the UCSF School of Dentistry, the nation's</span> <span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">largest recipient of National Institutes of Health funding among dental schools for 22 straight years. Here are a few other things the school is working on:</span></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(220, 235, 237)"><strong>Precision Dentistry</strong></span><span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> – By gathering specific data on your mouth’s microbiome through tools such as genetic mapping, researchers are developing precise and personalized dental treatments.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(220, 235, 237)"><strong>Caries Management by Risk Assessment </strong></span><span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">– New methods can identify individuals at risk for tooth decay before it happens, and then use non-invasive therapeutic techniques to identify and combat bacteria that cause cavities.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(220, 235, 237)"><strong>Laser Therapy</strong></span><span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> – Dentistry is increasingly exploring using lasers for minimally-invasive treatments, such as precisely removing tooth decay prior to placing a small filling, reshaping gums and altering the tooth's microsurface to make it resistant to decay.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(220, 235, 237)"><strong>Biological Tooth Repair</strong></span><span style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> – Teeth have a limited ability to repair themselves. But now researchers are investigating how dental stem cells could be used to someday grow new teeth.</span></span></li> </ul></div> <p>"Early detection is very important because there is a greater probability that you can use nonsurgical means such as fluoride therapy to arrest or even reverse the decay," Fried said.</p> <p>In a way, Featherstone noted, the near-infrared imaging technique Fried’s team has developed is a return to the early days of dentistry, when practitioners relied mainly on their eyesight to detect tooth decay.</p> <p>“The eye is one of the most incredible optical detectors that exists,” Featherstone said. “Here, instead of using visible light, we’re now choosing wavelengths of light that the tooth is transparent to in order to enhance what the eye can see.”</p> <p>Featherstone commended Fried for his persistence in developing the near-infrared imaging technology.</p> <p>“Dan and I talked about using a near-infrared camera to replace the eye years ago. It sounds simple in theory, but it took years to put together,” he said.</p> <p>While dental X-rays won’t be completely eliminated anytime soon – they are still the best available method for tasks such as identifying abscesses, or pus-filled regions in bone associated with tooth decay – Fried believes the techniques he's helping develop could go a long way toward replacing radiographs for routine screening.</p> <p>"There are also high-risk populations such as pregnant women and children where you don't want to have any radiation exposure," Fried said, "and we think [these techniques] could be particularly valuable for that."</p> <h2><span style="color:#406a72">Beyond Replacing X-rays</span></h2> <p>Fried's latest project involves using lasers to selectively "ablate," or remove, tooth-colored fillings in order to treat underlying tooth decay while leaving healthy tissue intact.</p> <p>"Sometimes it's very difficult to distinguish between dental composites and actual tooth structures, so we're working on laser systems that scan the tooth and only removes the composites," Fried said.</p> <p>The technique involves using a laser to vaporize a tiny amount of material from a tooth and then analyze the resulting plume with a miniature spectrometer to identify the chemical makeup of a particular region.</p> <p>"Teeth have a lot of calcium but composites don't," Fried said. "If we see calcium emission lines, we know not to hit that spot again with the laser." Fried's group is still refining the laser technique but have plans to conduct clinical studies soon.</p> </div> <div class="tags-menu-region"> <h3 class="tags-menu__title">Topics</h3> <ul class="tags-menu"> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/dentistry-and-oral-health" hreflang="en">Dentistry and Oral Health</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </main> <aside class="recommended-articles "> <div class="recommended-articles__banner"> <h2 class="recommended-articles__title">Recommended Reading</h2> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="element-swoosh view view-articles-by-term view-id-articles_by_term view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-8a112f2618733f4c412b74012f25dc3f1c1f16f9da32363ad451074ff7ff4e67"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="428681" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-research"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/10/428681/how-oral-microbiome-connected-overall-human-health" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/tooth-microbiome-card.png 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/tooth-microbiome-card.png 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/png" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-10/tooth-microbiome-card.png" width="600" height="338" alt="A graphic illustration of a magnifying glass looking closely at microbes on a tooth." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-10-22T22:45:15Z" class="datetime"> Oct. 22, 2024 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How the Oral Microbiome is Connected to Overall Human Health</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="428371" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-campus-news"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/09/428371/ucsf-dentistry-expands-community-education-third-year-students" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-09/UCSF%20Dentistry%20Expands%20Community%20Education%20to%20Third-Year%20Students%20%20%282%29.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-09/UCSF%20Dentistry%20Expands%20Community%20Education%20to%20Third-Year%20Students%20%20%282%29.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-09/UCSF%20Dentistry%20Expands%20Community%20Education%20to%20Third-Year%20Students%20%20%282%29.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="three dental students in office look over x rays." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-campus-news">Campus News</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-09-10T17:00:00Z" class="datetime"> Sep. 10, 2024 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">UCSF Dentistry Expands Community Education to Third-Year Students </span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="427751" class="news-card--magazine-article magazine-article-card news-card" data-primary-area="pa-magazine"> <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/five-questions-sepideh-banava" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-06/ucsf-sepideh-banava-ipv-dentistry-ai-tool-featured.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-06/ucsf-sepideh-banava-ipv-dentistry-ai-tool-featured.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2024-06/ucsf-sepideh-banava-ipv-dentistry-ai-tool-featured.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="Portrait of Sepideh Banava" class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-ucsf-magazine">UCSF Magazine</li> <li class="article-header__date magazine-article-card__date"> <div class="field field-magazine-issue field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Summer 2024</div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Five Questions for Sepideh Banava</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-ctas-wrapper"> <div class="field field-ankle-cta field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Are you a member of the news media?</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="389ec7dc-e40f-4077-9e9c-884ccbea0dec" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" title="Resources for Journalists">Visit the Media Center</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Stay in touch with the latest updates.</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cab6a11f-4158-4d04-88f1-d511d9455ca2" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" title="Subscribe to UCSF News">Subscribe to UCSF News</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <footer class="footer-region"> <div class="footer"> <div class="logo-follow"> <figure class="footer-logo"> <a class="footer-logo__link" href="/"> <div class="footer-logo__image"> <img class="footer-logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/images/footer-logo.svg" alt="UCSF Footer Logo" width="100" height="100"> </div> </a> </figure> <div class="follow"> <h2>Follow Us:</h2> <ul> <li class="follow-facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-facebook-f"></span> <span class="indent-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="follow-twitter"><a href="https://www.twitter.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="follow-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-youtube"></span> <span class="indent-text">YouTube</span></a></li> <li class="follow-instagram"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-instagram"></span> <span class="indent-text">Instagram</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-footer" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer"> <ul block="block-ucsf-footer" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/cgr/advocacy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/408041">Become a UCSF Advocate</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://ucsfhealth.samaritan.com">Volunteer at UCSF Medical Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://together.ucsf.edu/">Start a Fundraiser</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403161">Subscribe to UCSF News</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-footer2resources" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer2"> <ul block="block-footer2resources" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A to Z Website List</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/421786">Accessibility Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://policies.ucsf.edu/">Administrative Policies</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://identity.ucsf.edu/">Brand Guidelines</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/">Campus Life Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Campus Maps</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/working-ucsf" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409191">Careers at UCSF</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/emergency-preparedness">Emergency Preparedness</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://hr.ucsf.edu">Human Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://directory.ucsf.edu/">People Directory</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/">Police</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/services/shuttles/">Shuttle Schedule</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu">UCSF Profiles</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="block-popwiseblock" class="block block-block-content block-block-content6efc2b33-6a3d-487d-8945-4c884ad0df82"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false"> (function(W,i,s,e,P,o,p){W['WisePopsObject']=P;W[P]=W[P]||function(){ (W[P].q=W[P].q||[]).push(arguments)},W[P].l=1*new Date();o=i.createElement(s), p=i.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];o.async=1;o.src=e;p.parentNode.insertBefore(o,p) })(window,document,'script','//loader.wisepops.com/get-loader.js?v=1&site=dQ5haeqNrm','wisepops'); </script></div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <p>© 2024 The Regents of The University of California</p> <ul class="text-align: right;"> <li><a href="/sitemap.xml" style="left: -9999px; position:absolute;" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">Sitemap</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/feedback">Report an issue with UCSF.edu website</a></li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"drupalLanguage":"en","drupalCountry":"US","siteName":"UC San Francisco","entityCreated":"1406276100","entityLangcode":"en","entityStatus":"1","entityUid":"31","entityUuid":"65fe24d8-313e-4e86-9864-ea6965c85727","entityVid":"619781","entityName":"louise.chu","entityType":"node","entityBundle":"article","entityId":"116136","entityTitle":"Viewing Dentistry in a New Light","entityTaxonomy":{"areas":{"726":"Research"},"article_type":{"715":"Web Story"},"custom_authors":{"411326":"Ker Than"},"organizations":{"26":"School of Dentistry"},"people":{"212":"John Featherstone"},"topics":{"631":"Dentistry and Oral Health"}},"userUid":0});</script>  <link name="polymer_platform" href="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/elements/build.html" rel="import" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/116136","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJxlkFtywzAIRTekRh9dkAZLRKZBwiOwU3X1Ue1kkrQ_DHMujwvxgolMWuifRmHhNVNVf8UpSlmkYjV1kUG1-wkUH3lBVcg4NGnoq7QCTD_oEhgwdGx-whk2kqZOJRJwKGMRBKZ6Uf8fnWzGgk4NjNQoqk9tXYBPT-K0q2E5fKxRzx559FQLZ0h_iGzYGJaQ0DAaSX2X9Sqi88EyywR85IwZYg9VEoaXB-zabwjQhhPGYLIMR6OmtTE_zAiJan4pvF9IUeqjv9IwpcCK0OKxPECSCQNU4L4f_YRuI7yq3-MJvuD7DRRJK6Prsto6BmRgxtbvt3yo9fHUfAMiObwP","theme":"ucsf","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0}}},"statistics":{"data":{"nid":"116136"},"url":"\/core\/modules\/statistics\/statistics.php"},"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:8a112f2618733f4c412b74012f25dc3f1c1f16f9da32363ad451074ff7ff4e67":{"view_name":"articles_by_term","view_display_id":"block_1","view_args":"631\/116136","view_path":"\/node\/116136","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"8a112f2618733f4c412b74012f25dc3f1c1f16f9da32363ad451074ff7ff4e67","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0c730a228c7c7fb09ef69cc49872503ed212ec963125de64d7bd9d3929d14bf0"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_ChBLFJmLnJSY1j9tLrWbRTmJImKSKrgUmJ7S1dxzYdk.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8"></script> <script src="https://kit.fontawesome.com/0047baebb3.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_DGHzI4C8s2m5srCR8I7slhej7nbVRHo8VPE5sxHlbEQ.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Viewing Dentistry in a New Light | UC San Francisco