Clinical performance of two fluorescence-based methods in detecting occlusal caries in primary teeth

• Grant number: 11/08829-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Minatel Braga Fraga
• Grantee: Mariana Minatel Braga Fraga
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the performance of two fluorescence-based methods in detecting occlusal caries lesions in primary teeth, and to purpose a correction of the diagnostic parameters due to the imperfect reference standard method used in the study. Two examiners assessed the occlusal surfaces of 407 teeth (62 children) using the methods: visual inspection (ICDAS), radiographic radiography, DIAGNOdent pen (LFpen) and fluorescence camera (FC) methods. At non-cavitated threshold (NC), the reference standard method was results of ICDAS, and, at dentin caries threshold (D3), teeth diagnosed with dentin caries by ICDAS or radiographic methodsradiography were submitted to operative treatment to confirm the presence of dentin caries. Reproducibility and validity was were calculated for the fluorescence-based methods at both thresholds. At NC threshold, LFpen presented slightly better performance than FC, but at D3 threshold, the methods performed similarly. Reproducibility at D3 threshold was better than at NC threshold. After corrections, there was significant decrease in some parameters. In conclusion, both fluorescence-based methods present similar performance in detecting occlusal dentin caries lesions in primary teeth, and the correction purposed shows that the performance of the methods can be overestimated when using an imprecise reference standard method and and the correction should be considered in further studies. (AU)