# Application of Wood’s Lamp in Dermatological and Dental Photodiagnostics

## TL;DR

This paper explores the use of a Wood’s lamp in dermatology and dental diagnostics, showing its potential for early detection of conditions like caries and bacterial plaque.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a new application of the Wood’s lamp in dental diagnostics for early caries detection.

## Key findings

- The Wood’s lamp can detect enamel demineralization at a 5–10% decrease in fluorescence.
- The lower detection limit of protoporphyrin IX was determined for dermatological use.
- Case studies demonstrated the lamp's effectiveness in photodiagnostics combined with photodynamic therapy.

## Abstract

This article provides an overview of the possibilities of using a modern Wood’s lamp in dermatological diagnostics. In the experimental part, this study examined the possibilities of the light source in photodiagnostics combined with the photodynamic method (PDT) and determined the lower detection limit of the basic photosensitizer in dermatology—protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). The absorption parameters and fluorescence quantum efficiency of PPIX were investigated, and case studies of patients in clinical conditions were presented. A new application may be the use of a Wood’s lamp in dental diagnostics to detect the early stage of caries and to monitor bacterial plaque. Fluorescence area studies were conducted on 21 extracted teeth with different levels of caries. The results showed that changes in enamel demineralization can be detected at a level as low as a 5–10% decrease in fluorescence.