In vivo Optical Coherence Tomography in oral cavity: an update

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technique is based on broadband light, using a low coherence interferometry system. The OCT technology, in the last decades, has been widely employed in various medical branches, showing as a diagnostic mean capable of providing high resolution macroscopic and microscopic images of biological tissues. Nowadays, alongside with other in vivo diagnostic means, OCT has been introduced also in dentistry and oral medicine demonstrating as a device of considerable interest both for hard and soft tissue of oral cavity. Current literature shows off hundreds of studies about feasibility of OCT application for early diagnosis of oral disorders. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and summarize the evidence present in the literature, providing an update on the state of the art of the in vivo application of OCT on hard and soft tissues of the oral mucosa.