Development of a novel dental thermal imaging application

Abstract

Thermography is a process where a thermal camera captures and generates an image by using infrared radiation, emitted from an object. Thermography has had limited use in dentistry, but with recent technological advances, thermography has been employed for the production of digital images. An Android software application was developed, called the Dental Thermal App (DTA), to facilitate a simple, cost-effective, systematic and clinically-based workflow. The application functions on a mobile device and requires the use of a connected Flir camera, which has 19 200 pixels of thermal image resolution, measures temperatures between -20 to 120ºC and can detect differences in heat as little as 0.01 ºC. Thermal imaging provides an alternative method for visualization for identification and assessment, with applications in patient records, documentation, infection control, education and laboratory clinical work. DTA has been developed, tested and launched and is a novel, low-cost, portable, non-invasive digital tool for dentistry. DTA provides an alternative mobile tool that provides improved accessibility for clinicians and patients.