Caries Assessment

The goal of this study is to evaluate if an intraoral scanning device with an integrated radiation-free caries detection tool (near-infrared light) can detect early tooth decay. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can the tool find tooth decay as accurately as traditional visual and X-ray examinations? How reliable is the tool when used by different dentists? Participants will: * Have one tooth scheduled for extraction. This tooth and its adjacent teeth need to be examined before the extraction by using the intraoral scanner with the caries detection tool, which takes about 5 extra minutes. Those results will be compared to the standard dental examination, including visual inspection and X-rays. * Allow investigators to check the extracted tooth and the neighboring teeth directly after extraction to see if any carious lesion is visible. This study does not involve any drugs or invasive procedures beyond the planned tooth extraction, and participants will not be exposed to extra radiation. The results will help dentists detect tooth decay, which may allow less invasive treatments and better prevention.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a developmental enamel defect of unclear etiology that affects permanent first molars and often permanent incisors, leading to increased porosity, hypersensitivity, and poor prognosis. The porous structure of MIH-affected enamel facilitates bacterial penetration, which may cause subclinical pulpal inflammation and reduce the effectiveness of local anesthesia during dental procedures. Achieving adequate anesthesia in children with MIH can be challenging, resulting in increased discomfort, anxiety, and behavioral management difficulties. Cryotherapy has been shown to reduce pain by decreasing local inflammation and slowing nerve conduction, while silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity through tubule occlusion, antibacterial activity, and remineralization. This study aims to evaluate the effects of intraoral cryotherapy and silver diamine fluoride application on pain perception and the efficacy of local anesthesia during operative dental procedures in MIH-affected permanent first molars.

Dental caries (dental cavity) is very common and can impact oral health and oral health-related quality of life. Dental caries is when the tooth surfaces break down, and if left untreated, can cause tooth pain. In routine clinical practice, dental professionals typically assess caries lesions by looking at patients' teeth, touching the areas of interest with a dental probe, and running a probe over the teeth to check the buildup of bacteria. Dentists often use x-rays to help find cavities, and they can also take pictures of the teeth to show what the problem looks like. New tools called intraoral scanners are becoming more useful for finding cavities. These scanners do not use radiation and do not hurt. Some computer programs that use artificial intelligence (AI) can also help dentists find cavities. AI can study the spots on patients' teeth and help make better, faster decisions. The purpose of this study is to collect data that will be used to develop and test an AI software that can help dentists in the detection of caries.