Review on Application of Raman Spectroscopy in Oral Diseases: A Ray of Hope

Oral cancers are known to have catastrophic effects on individuals and the society by and large. They may have an indolent appearance in the preliminary stages which warrants an even more precision in their diagnosis. One of the major drawbacks in the management of oral cancers is the inability to detect it in the early stages causing failure in prompt treatment. Unfortunately, inspite of voluminous work in this regard there is still search of a dependable diagnostic implement. This hunt is even more amplified in developing countries. Optical diagnostic techniques can give impressive results in clinical set-ups. This review discusses about using Raman principle including raman spectroscopic use in medical and dental field with a special emphasis of Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy (SERDS) and tries to address concerns about this non-invasive technique. Through this paper we wish to focus reader’s attention towards this virgin area with an intention to take a step further towards the identification and cure of oral diseases.