Blood flow measurement by laser Doppler method in orofacial region

Laser Doppler is a noninvasive, objective, reproducible and painless method for measuring blood flow in tissue microcirculation. This method is based on the Doppler effect, the change in frequency of light reflecting from blood cells in motion. Light from helium-neon laser through optical fibers and probes is directed to the surface of the tissue in which the flow is measured. Light portion is reflected from the cells in motion and changes the frequency while another portion is reflected from the static tissue maintaining the same frequency as the initial light. The total reflected light, with changed and original frequency, reaches photo detector in the same probe where the emitter is and it is transformed into electrical impulse. In the orofacial region the laser Doppler method is used to examine blood flow in the mandible, teeth pulp and masticator muscles. A significant drawback of the laser Doppler method is its sensitivity to the ambient conditions during measuring and the fact that blood flow is measured in all blood vessels of examined microregion. Therefore, the circulation of isolated individual blood vessels can not be monitored. Laser Doppler method can give reliable indicators of blood flow in mouth tissue and method is acceptable for the patients.