Early detection of caries and timely correct intervention can reverse caries process, which can preservate tooth structures as possible and reduce traumatic treatment. Therefore, the early accurate diagnosis appears very important. Currently, the conventional methods cannot detect early caries objectively and effectively, and also cannot monitor caries process quantitatively, which often makes patients lose the optimal opportunity of conservative treatment. So, we need a safe, accurate and quantifiable technology to detect and monitor early caries. Recent years, there are several noninvasive and quantitative methods of early caries detection. This review was focused on the research progress of early caries detection with optical coherence tomography.
