The performance of conventional and fluorescence-based methods for occlusal caries detection: an in vivo study with histologic validation.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted an in vivo study to determine clinical cutoffs for a laser fluorescence (LF) device, an LF pen and a fluorescence camera (FC), as well as to evaluate the clinical performance of these methods and conventional methods in detecting occlusal caries in permanent teeth by using the histologic gold standard for total validation of the sample. METHODS: One trained examiner assessed 105 occlusal surfaces by using the LF device, LF pen, FC, International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria and bitewing (BW) radiographic methods. After tooth extraction, the authors assessed the teeth histologically. They determined the optimal clinical cutoffs by means of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: The specificities and sensitivities for enamel and dentin caries detection versus only dentin caries detection thresholds were 0.60 and 0.93 and 0.77 and 0.52 (ICDAS), 1.00 and 0.29 and 0.97 and 0.44 (BW radiography), 1.00 and 0.85 and 0.77 and 0.81 (LF device), 0.80 and 0.89 and 0.71 and 0.85 (LF pen) and 0.80 and 0.74 and 0.49 and 0.85 (FC), respectively. The accuracy values were higher for ICDAS, the LF device and the LF pen than they were for BW radiography and the FC. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical cutoffs for sound teeth, enamel carious lesions and dentin carious lesions were, respectively, 0 through 4, 5 through 27 and 28 through 99 (LF device); 0 through 4, 5 through 32 and 33 through 99 (LF pen); and 0 through 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 through 5.0 (FC). The ICDAS, the LF device and the LF pen demonstrated good performance in helping detect occlusal caries in vivo. The ICDAS did not seem to perform as well at the D(3) threshold (histologic scores 3 and 4) as at the D(1) threshold (histologic scores 1-4). BW radiography and the FC had the lowest performances in helping detect lesions at the D(1) and D(3) thresholds, respectively. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Occlusal caries detection should be based primarily on visual inspection. Fluorescence-based methods may be used to provide a second opinion in clinical practice.

Avaliação clínica, radiográfica e histológica de cáries de fissura / Clinical, radiographic and histologic accessement of fissure decays

Com o intuito de auxiliar a determinação do plano de tratamento mais conservador, o presente estudo avaliou in vitro a eficácia dos métodos clinico (visual), radiográfico e histológico no diagnóstico das lesões incipientes.Metodologia: foram avaliados 20 dentes molares permanentes humanos que apresentavam superfície oclusal aparentemente íntegra ou escurecida, porém sem cavitação. Estes dentes foram submetidos ao exame radiográfico, por meio de radiografias periapicais e exame visual, por três examinadores previamente calibrados, com o auxílio de refletores odontológicos. As superfícies oclusais dos dentes foram fotografadas e em seguida os mesmos foram seccionados com disco diamantados em uma máquina de corte, obtendo-se cortes com 0,375mm de espessura. Foram confeccionadas lâminas histológicas para avaliação da desmineralização em esmalte e dentina dos dentes por meio de microscopia óptica. Escores foram utilizados para a classificação dos métodos diagnósticos avaliados e os mesmos obtidos foram avaliados pela estatística Gamma, com índice de significância de 0,05.Resultado: tanto o diagnóstico clínico quanto o radiográfico foram falhos na determinação da presença, extensão e localização da cárie dental, não ocorrendo uma correlação entre os três métodos utilizados (p>0,05).Conclusão: é imprescindível que o Cirurgião-Dentista associe as informações derivadas dos métodos complementares de diagnóstico aos seus conhecimentos prévios, a fim de optar ou não pelo tratamento restaurador destas lesões...

This in vitro study evaluated the effectiveness of clinical methods (visual), radiographic and histological diagnosis of incipient lesions in order to determine the most conservative treatment plan.Methodology: 20 human permanent molar teeth which had apparently intact occlusal surface, darkened but without cavitation, were evaluated. These teeth were subjected to X-ray, using periapical radiographs and visual examination by three calibrated examiners with the aid of reflectors dentistry. The occlusal surfaces of the teeth were photographed and then they were serially sectioned on a diamond cutting machine, resulting in cuts to 0.375 mm thick. Slides were obtained for histological assessment of demineralization in enamel and dentin of the teeth by light microscopy. Scores were used to classificate accessed diagnostic methods and they were evaluated by statistical Gamma, with a significance of 0.05.Results: both clinical and radiographic diagnosis failed to determine the presence, extent and location of tooth decay and there was no correlation between the three methods (p>0.05).Conclusion: it is essential that the Dental Surgeon conects information derived from complementary methods of diagnosis with their prior knowledge in order to choose between the restorative or conservative treatment of these lesions...

Clinical, salivary, and bacterial markers for caries risk assessment in schoolchildren: a 4-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, there is a high prevalence of dental caries and large groups of children still show extensive untreated dental damage. AIM: This study aims to evaluate, in a cohort of 6-year-old Mexican children, the relationship between caries increment at 4 years and the following caries risk markers: fissure morphology, caries experience, salivary flow rate, Snyder test results, and mutans and lactobacilli counts. DESIGN: To predict new caries lesions in 110 schoolchildren, clinical, salivary, and bacteriological caries risk markers were used, including fissure morphology, caries experience, salivary flow rate, Snyder test, and Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli counts. To determine the validity of these markers, the baseline data were compared with the caries increment after 4 years. RESULTS: The risk model's capacity to predict caries was moderate (specificity 79.6% and sensitivity 78.6%). Caries experience (P = 0.0001), Snyder test (P = 0.002), and fissure morphology (P = 0.024) had the strongest association with caries increment. Salivary flow rate, lactobacilli, and S. mutans counts did not contribute significantly to the prediction of caries lesions in these children. CONCLUSION: In addition to the initial caries experience, tooth morphology and Snyder test proved to be useful predictors for caries. These three risk markers may be particularly useful in targeting caries prevention efforts in developing countries.

Use of Diagnodent for diagnosis of non-cavitated occlusal dentin caries.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a laser fluorescence device for detection of occlusal caries in permanent teeth. One hundred and ninety-nine non-cavitated teeth from 26 patients aged 10 to 13 years were selected. After dental prophylaxis, two previously calibrated dentists examined the teeth. Visual inspection, radiographic examination and laser measurements were performed under standardized conditions. The validation method was cavity preparation with a small cone-shaped diamond bur, when the two examiners agreed about the presence of dentin caries. It was found that the laser detection method produced high values of sensitivity (0.93) and specificity (0.75) and a moderate positive predictive value (0.63). The laser device showed the lowest value of likelihood ratio (3.68). Kappa coefficient showed good repeatability for all methods. Although the laser device had an acceptable performance, this equipment should be used as an adjunct method to visual inspection to avoid false positive results.

Use of diagnodent® for diagnosis of non-cavitated occlusal dentin caries

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a laser fluorescence device for detection of occlusal caries in permanent teeth. One hundred and ninety-nine non-cavitated teeth from 26 patients aged 10 to 13 years were selected. After dental prophylaxis, two previously calibrated dentists examined the teeth. Visual inspection, radiographic examination and laser measurements were performed under standardized conditions. The validation method was cavity preparation with a small cone-shaped diamond bur, when the two examiners agreed about the presence of dentin caries. It was found that the laser detection method produced high values of sensitivity (0.93) and specificity (0.75) and a moderate positive predictive value (0.63). The laser device showed the lowest value of likelihood ratio (3.68). Kappa coefficient showed good repeatability for all methods. Although the laser device had an acceptable performance, this equipment should be used as an adjunct method to visual inspection to avoid false positive results.

Clinical analysis of molar fissures by Cone-beam tomography.

This study aimed to validate clinical analysis of 20 pediatric dentists on occlusal groove-fossa-system of molar depth comparing to Cone-beam tomography. The 48 sound third molars were visually classified from the shallowest to the deepest. Images were taken from the Accuitomo 3DX. There was a fair correlation between clinical analysis and the tomographic scorings (rs = 0.238; P = 0.103). It was concluded that pediatric dentists were not able to classify the fissures depth by visual analysis correctly.

Effect of Cervitec on mutans streptococci in plaque and on caries formation on occlusal fissures of erupting permanent molars.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cervitec on the abundance of mutans streptococci (MS) in occlusal dental plaque and on 2-year caries increment of partly erupting first permanent molars. Sixteen healthy schoolchildren aged 6-8 years, with at least 2 sound contralateral partly erupted permanent molars, received diet counselling and daily parental supervised toothbrushing with a fluoride dentifrice. Stimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline and after 1 year to evaluate MS levels. In a split-mouth design, Cervitec varnish was applied to one of the teeth at baseline and after 3 and 6 months, while the other tooth in the same jaw was a control. At the 9-month follow-up the teeth were in occlusal contact. At this time, varnish was not applied. At 3 and 6 months after the first application of varnish a significant suppression of MS was observed in plaque. Caries investigations, performed at baseline and every 3 months during the 2 years after the start of the study, showed that all the teeth treated with the varnish were free of caries after 2 years, whereas 8/16 control teeth developed incipient caries. In conclusion, our results suggest that treatment with Cervitec reduces MS in plaque on erupting permanent molars and can lead to a significant decrease in caries incidence.

Invasive technique of pit and fissure sealants in primary molars: a SEM study.

One of the alternatives used when the clinical inspection of the fissure is doubtful is the invasive technique. This study used the SEM, to investigate two kinds of burs in doing the invasive technique upon primary molars, as well as to test the suitability of two kinds of sealants (with and without filler particles) to penetrate into such preparations. The points hereby tested revealed to be adequate in obtaining a minimal opening in the enamel, allowing the inspection of the fissure, and at the expense of a slight removal of dubious tissue, permitting a preparation of easy clinical performance. In regard to sealant penetration, no difference was seen between the self-cured sealant and the light-cured sealant.

Avaliaçäo cefalométrica do crescimento craniofacial e seu comportamento sob variáveis cirúrgicas, de jovens portadores de fissura transforame incisivo bilateral / Cephalometric evaluation of the craniofacial growth and its behaviour across surgical variables, in young with bilateral complete cleft lip

Estabeleceu-se neste estudo transversal, uma avaliaçäo das estruturas craniofaciais em jovens portadores de fissura transforame incisivo bilateral, considerando-se o resultado do tratamento cirúrgico recebido, ou seja, tratamento curúrgico padräo (TCP) e tratamento cirúrgico fora do padräo (TCFP). Com base em grandezas cefalométricas, 9 angulares e 15 lineares, os fissurados foram comparados entre si e, posteriormente, com valores obtidos de uma amostra de oclusäo normal chegando-se aos seguintes resultados: Na avaliaçäo do padräo de crescimento craniofacial näo foram observadas diferenças entre os dois grupos portadores de fissura, impedindo conclusöes significativas acerca dos efeitos de cirurgias mal executadas sobre este crescimento. As alteraçöes estatisticamente significantes restringiram-se à projeçäo do lábio superior, melhor para o grupo TCP, ao tamanho da porçäo anterior da base do crânio, menor no grupo TCFP e à altura facial anterior inferior, maior e, consequentemente pior, no TCFP. Comparando-se os grupos fissurados com o grupo normal, observou-se um achatamento da base do crânio e um crescimento mais vertical nos primeiros. A maxila foi maior nas idades mais precoces, mas tendeu a sofrer uma diminuiçäo com o passar do tempo. A mandíbula apresentou um tamanho normal, porém mais retroposta, com um ângulo goníaco e ramo maiores e um corpo menor. Observou-se ainda nos grupos fissurados uma relaçäo maxilomandibular maior e um diferencial menor e uma altura facial anterior inferior consideravelmente maior. As alteraçöes ao nível de tecido mole foram evidenciadas por um posicionamento mais posterior do nariz e lábio superior e, mais anterior, do lábio inferior