Cynthia Darling, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Preventive & Restor Dent Sci
School of Dentistry

Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT): Our ongoing research in vitro and in vivo studies seek to validate PS-OCT as a clinical tool for the accurate and early clinical assessment of tooth demineralization and remineralization. PS-OCT is ideally suited for acquiring cross sectional images of lesion structure. Changes in lesion structure occur upon remineralization and we have published the first papers showing that PS-OCT can be used to monitor such changes both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore it can potentially be used for monitoring lesion severity and for assessing the activity of early carious lesions without the use of ionizing radiation. These in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the great potential of PS-OCT as a valuable tool for both clinical diagnosis of lesions and for clinical studies. We have carried out the first clinical studies showing that PS-OCT and cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) can be used to monitor the development of early demineralization, the effect of fluoride (glass ionomer cements and fluoride varnish) and lesion activity, and have developed automated methods for assessing the severity of demineralization that can be used both in vitro and in vivo.

Real-Time Imaging of Laser Ablation and Composite Removal: The highlights of this proposed research is the development of laser-based methods for the selective removal of caries lesions and composite restorative materials using image guidance and spectral feedback to control the laser scanning system. Our group has carried out the development of near-IR, fluorescence and OCT image analysis methods for programming the laser system for selective removal of caries lesions and to develop OCT imaging as a diagnostic of laser ablation. We have also looked at NIR imaging to monitor laser ablation through dental enamel in real-time to directly visualize peripheral thermal and mechanical damage.

• Near-infrared imaging of demineralization on the occlusal surfaces of teeth without the interference of stains.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2019 Ng C, Almaz E, Simon J, Fried D, Darling C
• Selective removal of dental calculus with a diode-pumped Er:YAG laser.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2019 Fried WA, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• The contrast of demineralization on tooth occlusal surfaces from 405 to 1950-nm with varying depth.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2019 Mohajerani N, Chan KH, Yang VB, Fried D, Darling CL
• Use of a DPSS Er:YAG laser for the selective removal of composite from tooth surfaces.
  Biomedical optics express 2018 Fried WA, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Photochemical crosslinking of caries-affected dentin combined with total- or self-etch systems.
  American journal of translational research 2018 Ahn Y, Lamy R, Darling CL, Stewart JM, Pinzon LM
• Multispectral near-infrared reflectance and transillumination imaging of occlusal carious lesions: Variation in lesion contrast with lesion depth.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2018 Simon JC, Curtis DA, Darling CL, Fried D
• SWIR reflectance imaging of demineralization on the occlusal surfaces of teeth beyond 1700 nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2018 Ng C, Simon JC, Fried D, Darling CL
• Influence of multi-wavelength laser irradiation of enamel and dentin surfaces at 0.355, 2.94, and 9.4 μm on surface morphology, permeability, and acid resistance.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2017 Chang NN, Jew JM, Simon JC, Chen KH, Lee RC, Fried WA, Cho J, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-IR and CP-OCT imaging of suspected occlusal caries lesions.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2017 Simon JC, Kang H, Staninec M, Jang AT, Chan KH, Darling CL, Lee RC, Fried D
• Assessment of cavitation in artificial approximal dental lesions with near-IR imaging.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2017 Simon JC, Darling CL, Fried D
• High-Contrast Reflectance Imaging of Composite Restorations Color-Matched to Tooth Structure at 1000-2300-nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2017 Fried WA, Simon JC, Darling CL, Le O, Fried D
• Influence of Multi-Wavelength Laser Irradiation of Enamel and Dentin Surfaces on Surface Morphology and Permeability.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2017 Chang NN, Jew J, Simon JC, Chan KH, Lee RC, Fried WA, Cho J, Darling CL, Fried D
• Optical changes of dentin in the near-IR as a function of mineral content.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2017 Berg RA, Simon JC, Fried D, Darling CL
• Selective removal of natural caries lesions from dentin and tooth occlusal surfaces using a diode-pumped Er:YAG laser.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2017 Jew J, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Use of an optical clearing agent to enhance the visibility of subsurface structures and lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2016 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-IR transillumination and reflectance imaging at 1,300 nm and 1,500-1,700 nm for in vivo caries detection.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2016 Simon JC, Lucas SA, Staninec M, Tom H, Chan KH, Darling CL, Cozin MJ, Lee RC, Fried D
• Activity assessment of root caries lesions with thermal and near-IR imaging methods.
  Journal of biophotonics 2016 Lee RC, Darling CL, Staninec M, Ragadio A, Fried D
• Clinical monitoring of smooth surface enamel lesions using CP-OCT during nonsurgical intervention.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2016 Chan KH, Tom H, Lee RC, Kang H, Simon JC, Staninec M, Darling CL, Pelzner RB, Fried D
• A system for simultaneous near-infrared reflectance and transillumination imaging of occlusal carious lesions.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Simon JC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Assessment of remineralized dentin lesions with thermal and near-infrared reflectance imaging.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Lee RC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Enhancement of OCT images with vinyl polysiloxane (VPS).
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Influence of stains on lesion contrast in the pits and fissures of tooth occlusal surfaces from 800-1600-nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Almaz EC, Simon JC, Fried D, Darling CL
• Selective removal of dental composite with a diode-pumped Er:YAG laser.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Fried WA, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Selective removal of esthetic composite restorations with spectral guided laser ablation.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2016 Yi I, Chan KH, Tsuji GH, Staninec M, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-infrared imaging of secondary caries lesions around composite restorations at wavelengths from 1300-1700-nm.
  Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials 2016 Simon JC, A Lucas S, Lee RC, Darling CL, Staninec M, Vaderhobli R, Pelzner R, Fried D
• Near-IR image-guided laser ablation of demineralization on tooth occlusal surfaces.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2016 Tom H, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Assessment of remineralization via measurement of dehydration rates with thermal and near-IR reflectance imaging.
  Journal of dentistry 2015 Lee RC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Assessment of remineralization in simulated enamel lesions via dehydration with near-IR reflectance imaging.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Lee RC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Enhanced detection of dentinal lesions in OCT images using the RKT transformation.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Kang H, Darling CL, Tom H, Fried D
• Image-guided removal of occlusal caries lesions with a λ= 9.3-µm CO2 laser using near-IR transillumination.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Chung LC, Tom H, Chan KH, Simon JC, Fried D, Darling CL
• In vitro near-infrared imaging of natural secondary caries.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Simon JC, Lucas S, Lee R, Darling CL, Staninec M, Vanderhobli R, Pelzner R, Fried D
• Selective removal of dental caries with a diode-pumped Er:YAG laser.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Yan R, Chan KH, Tom H, Simon JC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Serial removal of caries lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces using near-IR image-guided IR laser ablation.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2015 Chan KH, Tom H, Darling CL, Fried D
• A method for monitoring enamel erosion using laser irradiated surfaces and optical coherence tomography.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2014 Chan KH, Tom H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Automated assessment of the remineralization of artificial enamel lesions with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Biomedical optics express 2014 Lee RC, Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Longitudinal monitoring of demineralization peripheral to orthodontic brackets using cross polarization optical coherence tomography.
  Journal of dentistry 2014 Nee A, Chan K, Kang H, Staninec M, Darling CL, Fried D
• Multispectral Near-Infrared Imaging of Composite Restorations in Extracted Teeth.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Logan CM, Co KU, Fried WA, Simon JC, Staninec M, And DF, Darling CL
• Attenuation of near-IR light through dentin at wavelengths from 1300-1650-nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Chan AC, Darling CL, Chan KH, Fried D
• Automated detection of remineralization in simulated enamel lesions with PS-OCT.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Lee RC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Enhancing the detection of hidden occlusal caries lesions with OCT using high index liquids.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• High contrast optical imaging methods for image guided laser ablation of dental caries lesions.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Lamantia NR, Tom H, Chan KH, Simon JC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-IR imaging of cracks in teeth.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Fried WA, Simon JC, Lucas S, Chan KH, Darling CL, Staninec M, Fried D
• Near-IR imaging of demineralization under sealants.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Tom H, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Transillumination and reflectance probes for in vivo near-IR imaging of dental caries.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2014 Simon JC, Lucas SA, Staninec M, Tom H, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-infrared imaging of demineralization under sealants.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2014 Tom H, Simon JC, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Multispectral near-IR reflectance imaging of simulated early occlusal lesions: variation of lesion contrast with lesion depth and severity.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2013 Simon JC, Chan KH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Use of 2D images of depth and integrated reflectivity to represent the severity of demineralization in cross-polarization optical coherence tomography.
  Journal of biophotonics 2013 Chan KH, Chan AC, Fried WA, Simon JC, Darling CL, Fried D
• High contrast reflectance imaging of simulated lesions on tooth occlusal surfaces at near-IR wavelengths.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2013 Fried WA, Fried D, Chan KH, Darling CL
• Clinical Monitoring of Early Caries Lesions using Cross Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2013 Fried D, Staninec M, Darling CL, Chan KH, Pelzner RB
• Imaging Early Demineralization on Tooth Occlusal Surfaces with a High Definition InGaAs Camera.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2013 Fried WA, Fried D, Chan KH, Darling CL
• Methods for Monitoring Erosion Using Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2013 Chan KH, Chan AC, Darling CL, Fried D
• Monitoring the Remineralization of Early Simulated Lesions using a pH Cycling Model with CP-OCT.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2013 Kang H, Chan K, Darling CL, Fried D
• Monitoring tooth demineralization using a cross polarization optical coherence tomographic system with an integrated MEMS scanner.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2012 Fried D, Staninec M, Darling C, Kang H, Chan K
• Nondestructive Monitoring of the Repair of Natural Occlusal Lesions using Cross - Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2012 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Remineralization of Root Caries Monitored Using Cross-Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2012 Darling CL, Staninec M, Chan KH, Kang H, Fried D
• Nondestructive monitoring of the repair of enamel artificial lesions by an acidic remineralization model using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials 2011 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Non-destructive clinical assessment of occlusal caries lesions using near-IR imaging methods.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2011 Staninec M, Douglas SM, Darling CL, Chan K, Kang H, Lee RC, Fried D
• Multispectral near-IR reflectance and transillumination imaging of teeth.
  Biomedical optics express 2011 Chung S, Fried D, Staninec M, Darling CL
• In vivo Near-IR Imaging of Occlusal Lesions at 1310-nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2011 Fried D, Staninec M, Darling CL, Lee C, Kang H, Chan KH
• Repair of Artificial Lesions using an Acidic Remineralization Model Monitored with Cross - Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2011 Kang H, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near infrared imaging of teeth at wavelengths between 1200 and 1600 nm.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2011 Chung S, Fried D, Staninec M, Darling CL
• Polarization Resolved Near-IR Imaging of Sound and Carious Dental Enamel.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2011 Darling CL, Chan KH, Fried D
• Clinical assessment of early tooth demineralization using polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2010 Louie T, Lee C, Hsu D, Hirasuna K, Manesh S, Staninec M, Darling CL, Fried D
• Nondestructive Assessment of Early Tooth Demineralization Using Cross-Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography.
  IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics : a publication of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-optics Society 2010 Kang H, Jiao JJ, Lee C, Le MH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Nondestructive assessment of the severity of occlusal caries lesions with near-infrared imaging at 1310 nm.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2010 Lee C, Lee D, Darling CL, Fried D
• In vivo near-IR imaging of approximal dental decay at 1,310 nm.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2010 Staninec M, Lee C, Darling CL, Fried D
• In vitro near-infrared imaging of occlusal dental caries using germanium enhanced CMOS camera.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2010 Lee C, Darling CL, Fried D
• Automated analysis of lesion depth and integrated reflectivity in PS-OCT scans of tooth demineralization.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2010 Le MH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Imaging Natural Occlusal Caries Lesions with Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2010 Douglas SM, Fried D, Darling CL
• Imaging early demineralization with PS-OCT.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2010 Kang H, Jiao JJ, Lee C, Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-IR Polarization Imaging of Sound and Carious Dental Enamel.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2010 Darling CL, Jiao JJ, Lee C, Kang H, Fried D
• Nondestructive assessment of dentin demineralization using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography after exposure to fluoride and laser irradiation.
  Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials 2009 Manesh SK, Darling CL, Fried D
• Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography for the nondestructive assessment of the remineralization of dentin.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2009 Manesh SK, Darling CL, Fried D
• Pulpal effects of enamel ablation with a microsecond pulsed lambda = 9.3-microm CO2 laser.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2009 Staninec M, Darling CL, Goodis HE, Pierre D, Cox DP, Fan K, Larson M, Parisi R, Hsu D, Manesh SK, Ho C, Hosseini M, Fried D
• Non-destructive measurement of demineralization & remineralization in the occlusal pits and fissures of extracted 3 molars with PS-OCT.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2009 Lee C, Hsu DJ, Le MH, Darling CL, Fried D
• An Automated Digital Microradiography System for Assessing Tooth Demineralization.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2009 Darling CL, Le CQ, Featherstone JD, Fried D
• Methods for calculating the severity of demineralization on tooth surfaces from PS-OCT scans.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2009 Le MH, Darling CL, Fried D
• Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomographic imaging of artificial demineralization on exposed surfaces of tooth roots.
  Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials 2009 Lee C, Darling CL, Fried D
• Assessment of Dentin Remineralization with PS-OCT.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2009 Manesh SK, Darling CL, Fried D
• Dentin caries zones: mineral, structure, and properties.
  Journal of dental research 2009 Pugach MK, Strother J, Darling CL, Fried D, Gansky SA, Marshall SJ, Marshall GW
• Near-IR Multi-modal Imaging of Natural Occlusal Lesions.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2009 Lee D, Fried D, Darling CL
• Nondestructive assessment of the inhibition of enamel demineralization by CO2 laser treatment using polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2008 Hsu DJ, Darling CL, Lachica MM, Fried D
• Near-infrared imaging of developmental defects in dental enamel.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2008 Hirasuna K, Fried D, Darling CL
• Non-destructive assessment of inhibition of demineralization in dental enamel irradiated by a lambda=9.3-microm CO2 laser at ablative irradiation intensities with PS-OCT.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2008 Can AM, Darling CL, Ho C, Fried D
• High-resolution PS-OCT of Enamel Remineralization.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2008 Can AM, Darling CL, Fried D
• Imaging laser irradiated enamel surfaces with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2008 Hsu DJ, Darling CL, Fried D
• Real-time near IR (1310 nm) imaging of CO2 laser ablation of enamel.
  Optics express 2008 Darling CL, Fried D
• Near-IR imaging of Erbium Laser Ablation with a Water Spray.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2008 Darling CL, Maffei ME, Fried WA, Fried D
• Imaging natural and artificial demineralization on dentin surfaces with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering 2008 Manesh SK, Darling CL, Fried D
• Nondestructive measurement of the inhibition of demineralization on smooth surfaces using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2007 Chong SL, Darling CL, Fried D
• Light scattering properties of natural and artificially demineralized dental enamel at 1310 nm.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2006 Darling CL, Huynh GD, Fried D
• Imaging artificial caries on the occlusal surfaces with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Caries research 2006 Jones RS, Darling CL, Featherstone JD, Fried D
• Remineralization of in vitro dental caries assessed with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Journal of biomedical optics 2006 Jones RS, Darling CL, Featherstone JD, Fried D
• Early caries imaging and monitoring with near-infrared light.
  Dental clinics of North America 2005 Fried D, Featherstone JD, Darling CL, Jones RS, Ngaotheppitak P, Bühler CM
• Measurement of the severity of natural smooth surface (interproximal) caries lesions with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.
  Lasers in surgery and medicine 2005 Ngaotheppitak P, Darling CL, Fried D