Summary in 1 minute
New intraoral scanners with near-infrared imaging (NIRI) technology are transforming the diagnosis of interproximal caries in daily clinical practice.
The iTero Element 5D by Align Technology is the first intraoral scanner to simultaneously integrate 3D imaging, intraoral color photography and NIRI technology in a single device. The system uses near-infrared light to analyze the internal tooth structure in real time, without emitting ionizing radiation, enabling detection of supragingival interproximal caries that are difficult to visualize with conventional radiographs or clinical probing.
According to clinical studies, the NIRI technology of the iTero Element 5D is 66% more sensitive than bitewing radiography for detecting proximal lesions. The system also incorporates the iTero TimeLapse function, which allows comparison of enamel condition at different time points to monitor lesion progression without additional radiographs.
A clinical trial is currently underway at the West China College of Stomatology comparing NIRI technology with CBCT to validate its diagnostic efficacy at scale.
Source: Align Technology — System information