Abstract: Dental caries is a progressive disease and deficiency in which multiple factors coactivate to hard tissue of the tooth. It reflects as demineralization of calcified tissue and disintergration of organic material, and progresses from color-changing to substantial cavity. The detection of early caries is a key element in the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Laser fluorescence is a new diagnostic tool to detect and quantify caries based on the principle that carious dental tissues emit higher fluorescence than sound tissue. With its higher sensitivity, accuracy and reliability than conventional diagnostic methods and non-invasive technique, laser fluorescence is considered to be an effective adjunct tool for early caries detection. This article intended to review its principle, diagnostic value, clinical application and influencing factors.

Key words: laser fluorescence, dental caries, early detection