IADR Abstract Archives
Assessment of Root Caries by Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence in vivo
Objectives: Due to the high prevalence of root caries, its diagnosis is becoming increasingly important. So far, there is a lack of valid detection and assessment methods supplementing clinical inspection. This in-vivo-feasibility study aimed to investigate the quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) for the detection and assessment of demineralization states of the root surface.
Methods: 12 participants with 46 exposed root surfaces (ICDAS II: 0, 1, 2) were included. At first, a clinical evaluation was performed according the ICDAS II classification. Subsequently, each of the three calibrated examiners took three QLF-images per root surface using the QRayCam (Inspector Amsterdam, Netherlands). This procedure was repeated after 14 days. A total of 920 QLF-images were generated, randomized and analyzed three times by calibrated examiners regarding demineralization (ΔF) and lesion volume (ΔQ). While the main examiner assessed all 920 QLF-pictures three times, the other two examiners evaluated a randomized selection of the images (n=138). The correlation between clinical inspection and QLF analysis was determined with the rank correlation coefficient Spearman-Rho (r); the intra- and interindividual reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results: Using the QLF-method, a metric quantification of different demineralization states of root surfaces can be determined with ΔF (p<0.01, r=-0.530). With growing ICDAS class the ΔF values decrease, i.e. the fluorescence loss (=demineralization) increases: For ICDAS score 0 the median ΔF value was 0% (IQR=0), for score 1=-10% (IQR=12) and for score 2=-23% (IQR=11). The examination parameter ΔF shows intraindividual reliability of ICC=0.98 and interindividual reliability of ICC=0.95. The intraindividual reliability of ΔQ was ICC=0.94 and the interindividual reliability amounts to ICC=0.91 (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Quantitative light-induced fluorescence allows the detection and differentiation of root caries lesions and can be recommended in addition to the clinical inspection for prospective follow-ups of demineralization states of exposed root surfaces.
Methods: 12 participants with 46 exposed root surfaces (ICDAS II: 0, 1, 2) were included. At first, a clinical evaluation was performed according the ICDAS II classification. Subsequently, each of the three calibrated examiners took three QLF-images per root surface using the QRayCam (Inspector Amsterdam, Netherlands). This procedure was repeated after 14 days. A total of 920 QLF-images were generated, randomized and analyzed three times by calibrated examiners regarding demineralization (ΔF) and lesion volume (ΔQ). While the main examiner assessed all 920 QLF-pictures three times, the other two examiners evaluated a randomized selection of the images (n=138). The correlation between clinical inspection and QLF analysis was determined with the rank correlation coefficient Spearman-Rho (r); the intra- and interindividual reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results: Using the QLF-method, a metric quantification of different demineralization states of root surfaces can be determined with ΔF (p<0.01, r=-0.530). With growing ICDAS class the ΔF values decrease, i.e. the fluorescence loss (=demineralization) increases: For ICDAS score 0 the median ΔF value was 0% (IQR=0), for score 1=-10% (IQR=12) and for score 2=-23% (IQR=11). The examination parameter ΔF shows intraindividual reliability of ICC=0.98 and interindividual reliability of ICC=0.95. The intraindividual reliability of ΔQ was ICC=0.94 and the interindividual reliability amounts to ICC=0.91 (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Quantitative light-induced fluorescence allows the detection and differentiation of root caries lesions and can be recommended in addition to the clinical inspection for prospective follow-ups of demineralization states of exposed root surfaces.