The effect of fissure sealants on the values of two different caries detection devices

An In Vivo Investigation of Diagnostic Performance of DIAGNOdent Pen and the Canary System for Assessment and Monitoring Enamel Caries under Fissure Sealants

Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of a quantitative light-induced fluorescence (DIAGNOdent pen [DP]) and a photothermal radiometry (Canary System [CS]) for assessment and monitoring occlusal enamel caries under fissure sealants placed on young permanent teeth.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients of mean age 9.96 (1.4) years, having at least two occlusal surface sites of non-cavitated lesions (International Caries Detection and Assessment System [ICDAS], 1-3 at baseline), were assigned for this clinical study as per specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 90 permanent teeth were examined using a visual examination method (ICDAS), a quantitative light-induced fluorescence (DP), and a photothermal radiometry (CS). Teeth were randomly divided into two groups based on the type of fissure sealants: a resin sealant and a glass-ionomer sealant. Sealants were placed over the study sites, and caries assessment was performed with each caries detection method at 3- and 6-month recall appointments. Numerical data were presented as mean, standard deviation, median, and interquartile range values. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the diagnostic accuracy measures of the two modalities and compared using z-statistic. ROC curve analysis was performed with MedCalc software, Ostend, Belgium, version 11.3 for Windows (MedCalc Software). Changes by time in caries progression were analyzed using McNemar test and Cochran Q test. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed with the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software for Windows, version 23.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York).

Results

The CS and DP were able to distinguish between sound and carious tissue beneath fully and partially retained sealants at 6-month follow-up with an accuracy of 46.7% and 33.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of the CS and DP are acceptable and can be considered as useful adjunct tools in the clinical evaluation and monitoring the changes in enamel due to lesion progression under fissure sealants. However, in the clinical setting, sensitivity and specificity of these devices may be influenced by the sealant type, thickness, retention, and the differences in the lesion characteristics over time.

Comparison of different caries detectors for approximal caries detection

Background/purpose

Detection of approximal caries may be difficult using conventional methods including visual inspection (VI) and radiography. The purpose of this in vitro research was to evaluate the efficiency of light-emitting diode (LED) and laser fluorescence (LF) devices, and radiographic and visual examination in approximal caries diagnosis.

Materials and methods

One hundred and fifty-six approximal regions were evaluated. All approximal regions were investigated using LED and LF tools after radiography and VI were performed. Histological evaluation of teeth was performed using stereomicroscopy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and accuracy, specificity, sensitivity values calculated regarding approximal caries diagnose.

Results

The specificity of the bitewing examination was higher for both T1 and T2 thresholds (0.97 and 0.99, respectively), and the LF device showed better sensitivity at each threshold compared with the other devices used for caries diagnosis (0.94 at T1 and 0.79 at T2). The receiver operating characteristic curves presented that the LF device was more successful than the other techniques at T1 threshold and VI was better than the other caries detection methods at T2 threshold. The kappa values for interobserver agreements were 0.43 (LF pen), 0.33 (LED device), 0.55 (VI), and 0.75 (bitewing examination).

Conclusion

The ability of bitewing radiography to identify sound surfaces was better than that of the other methods. The LF device was the most sensitive tool for detecting approximal surfaces with caries, followed by the LED device.

Effect of Different Contact Materials on Approximal Caries Detection by Laser Fluorescence and Light-Emitting Diode Devices

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of the adjacent tooth surface on pen type laser fluorescence (LFpen) and light-emitting diode (LED) device readings in detecting approximal caries lesions in permanent teeth.

BACKGROUND DATA

Early detection of noncavitated dental caries is important, because disease progression can be easily halted at this stage with certain applications, such as fluoride therapy, antibacterial therapy, dietary changes, or low-intensity laser irradiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 87 permanent molars with 156 approximal surfaces were assessed with LED- and LF-based devices in contact with sound tooth surfaces (the control group) as well as approximal amalgam, composite, zirconia, and full ceramic restorations. All teeth were assessed once by one trained examiner. After the LF and LED assessments, the teeth were histologically evaluated using stereomicroscopy as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were calculated according to the appropriate thresholds (T1, sound surface or enamel caries; T2, dentin caries).

RESULTS

For the LFpen device, higher sensitivity and accuracy was found when the adjacent surface was sound at the T1 threshold and no significant differences were found among accuracy at the T2 threshold. For the LED-based device, no significant differences were found among sensitivities at the T1 threshold. At the T2 threshold, specificity was higher when the adjacent tooth had a zirconia restoration.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that both devices could be used effectively for evaluating approximal surfaces with adjacent restored teeth, regardless of the different kinds of restorative materials.

In vivo performance of two devices for occlusal caries detection

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the performance of light-emitting diode (LED)- and laser fluorescence (LF)-based devices with that of visual inspection (VI) in the diagnosis of occlusal caries.

METHODS

A total of 156 occlusal surfaces were investigated. Each occlusal surface was assessed with LED- and LF-based devices after a VI was performed. Pit and fissure opening was applied to the occlusal surfaces in which opacity or discoloration was distinctly visible after airdrying. The inter-examiner reliability of caries examination was assessed using the weighted κ statistics. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of occlusal caries diagnosis using these methods were calculated according to the appropriate thresholds.

RESULTS

Acceptable inter-examiner agreement was found for the LED- and LF-based devices and VI (κ=0.61, κ=0.76, and κ=0.87, respectively). Higher specificity values were achieved at a T2 threshold for the LF-based device (0.76 and 0.80) and at a T1 threshold for the LED-based readings (0.60 and 0.62) and VI (0.90 and 0.93) for both observers. With regard to VI, higher sensitivity values were found at both thresholds for the two observers in comparing the three caries detection methods (0.98 at T1 and 0.96 at T2). The accuracy values for T1 were higher than those for the T2 values, for all three caries detection methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Caries lesions may be detected more accurately than clinically sound areas by both caries detection devices.

Comparing potential early caries assessment methods for teledentistry

BACKGROUND

Optical caries detection has the potential to be incorporated in telehealth medicine for preventive dental screening. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare visible and near infrared detection methods for identifying early non-cavitated ex vivo occlusal demineralization.

METHODS

Six blinded examiners were used to compare the accuracy of the following three examinations in detecting occlusal demineralization: Midwest Caries ID (MID), visual photographic examination (CAM) and Cross Polarization Optical Coherence Tomography (CP-OCT). For each diagnostic method, two examiners assessed the extracted tooth samples 1-2 weeks apart. Teeth were then sectioned and lesion depth was confirmed (n = 42) by a blinded histological examination using a glycol based caries indicator dye. The sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Sp), Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and Area under the Receiver Operator Curve (AUC) were calculated.

RESULTS

For detecting any demineralization versus sound pit and fissure enamel, the mean Sen/Sp found was 46.9/85.0 for MID, 80.5/52.5 for CAM, and 83.4/45.0 for CP-OCT. For detecting non-cavitated demineralization that progressed into the dentin, the mean Sen/Sp found was 17.3/88.0 for MID, 48.0/57.8 for CAM, and 44.2/72.7 for CP-OCT. AUC values were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in three out of four examiner assessments when MID and CP-OCT were used to detect any demineralization. AUC values were significant for a single CAM examination. When assessing deeper non-cavitated lesions, none of the assessment methods were able to yield AUC values that were significantly different than a random 'coin flip' test. When examining reliability, MID demonstrated the highest ICC score (0.83) and CP-OCT had the lowest (0.49).

CONCLUSION

Although MID and CP-OCT were useful in detecting the presence of demineralization, examiners were not able to utilize these devices to adequately assess the depth of the demineralization. This study found that MID and CP-OCT did not have markedly superior diagnostic values from simple CAM assessment for use in teledentistry.