QLF and Digital Imaging for Caries Activity Assessment After Orthodontic Treatment

May 20, 2026 updated by: Andrea Cortes, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá

Diagnostic Performance of Smartphone, 3D Imaging, QLF-D, and ICDAS Clinical Criteria for Non-Cavitated Caries Activity Assessment in Post-Orthodontic Patients Under a Preventive Program

This prospective longitudinal observational study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance and agreement of Smartphone photography, intraoral 3D imaging, Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Digital (QLF-D), and ICDAS clinical criteria for assessing non-cavitated caries lesion activity in post-orthodontic patients under a preventive follow-up program. Thirty participants aged 11 to 46 years with active initial caries lesions will be followed for three months. Clinical examinations, QLF-D imaging, smartphone photographs, and intraoral 3D scans will be obtained at baseline and follow-up visits combined with professional prophylaxis and oral hygiene reinforcement. The study will analyze changes in lesion activity, fluorescence parameters, and surface characteristics over time, as well as the agreement and diagnostic performance among the evaluated methods.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

This prospective longitudinal observational study will evaluate the agreement and diagnostic performance of Smartphone photography, intraoral 3D imaging, Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Digital (QLF-D), and ICDAS clinical criteria for assessing non-cavitated caries lesion activity in post-orthodontic patients.

Participants presenting active initial caries lesions on vestibular tooth surfaces will undergo clinical examinations, QLF-D imaging, smartphone photographs, and intraoral 3D scans at baseline and during a three-month preventive follow-up program. Professional prophylaxis and oral hygiene reinforcement will be performed throughout the study period.

Changes in clinical lesion activity, fluorescence parameters, and topographic characteristics will be analyzed to determine the monitoring capacity, agreement, and diagnostic performance of the evaluated methods. Patient acceptance of the diagnostic technologies will also be assessed.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include post-orthodontic patients from Bogotá, Colombia, aged 11 to 46 years, presenting active non-cavitated caries lesions on vestibular tooth surfaces. Participants will be recruited from university clinical settings and enrolled in a preventive follow-up program involving clinical and digital caries assessment methods.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants aged 11 to 46 years
  • Completed fixed orthodontic treatment
  • Presence of at least four active non-cavitated caries lesions (ICDAS 1-3)
  • Lesions located on vestibular surfaces of anterior teeth and/or premolars
  • Ability to attend follow-up visits during the three-month study period
  • Signed informed consent and/or assent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Systemic conditions affecting salivary flow or enamel structure
  • Extensive cavitated lesions requiring restorative treatment
  • Ongoing orthodontic treatment
  • Use of medications that significantly affect oral conditions
  • Inability to cooperate with imaging procedures or follow-up visits

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Post-Orthodontic Patients With Non-Cavitated Caries Lesions
Participants aged 11 to 46 years who have completed fixed orthodontic treatment and present at least four active non-cavitated caries lesions (ICDAS 1-3) on vestibular surfaces of anterior teeth or premolars. Participants will undergo clinical assessment using ICDAS criteria, QLF-D imaging, smartphone photography, and intraoral 3D scanning during a three-month preventive follow-up program that includes professional prophylaxis and oral hygiene reinforcement.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diagnostic Agreement Measured by Weighted Kappa Between ICDAS Clinical Assessment and QLF-D, Smartphone Photography, and Intraoral 3D Imaging for Non-Cavitated Caries Lesion Activity
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Diagnostic agreement among ICDAS clinical criteria, QLF-D fluorescence parameters, smartphone intraoral photographs, and intraoral 3D imaging for identifying active and inactive non-cavitated caries lesions in post-orthodontic patients.
Baseline, 3 months and 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 21, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 4, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 22, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 20, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UEB CIE2025-108

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared due to confidentiality and privacy considerations related to clinical images and personal health information collected during the study. De-identified aggregate results will be reported in scientific publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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