IADR Abstract Archives
Comparison of Approximal Carious Lesions Detection in Primary Molars
Objectives: Approximal carious lesions are difficult to detect. Visual inspection (VI) complemented with bitewings radiographs (BW) are the most used methods as a routine diagnostic approach. However, both methods combined can underestimate lesion cavitation. Aim: To compare the ability of three different methods to detect cavitation in approximal surfaces: VI, BW and VI after tooth separation using orthodontic rubber rings (ORR), with the latter considered as gold standard.
Methods: This cross-sectional study examined approximal surfaces in primary molars of 6-to-11-year-old children attending dental clinic of the University of Talca. VI was performed by using ICDAS criteria and caries risk assessment was evaluated by employing Cariogram model. The mesial and distal surfaces were classified radiographically according to ADA Caries Classification System (E1 to D3). If lesions did not show a clear diagnosis of cavitation using these two methods, final diagnosis was defined by the teeth separation using ORR. Analyses included descriptive information and cross-tabulation of data per patient and per surface.
Results: A total of 122 approximal surfaces from 39 patients were examined with an average age of 8.00 (±0.22) years. The DMFT and dmft of the sample were 1.64 (±0.25) and 5.49 (±0.41), respectively. All children were at a high caries-risk. From all examined surfaces, 33% had a carious ICDAS code (2 to 6), and the most prevalent code encountered was 6 (8.7%; n=46) followed by code 4 (6.0%; n=32). Twenty-seven surfaces were evaluated after dental separation using ORR. Five of those surfaces (19%) were classified as ICDAS code 4 (VI) and D1 (BW), however they were not cavitated.
Conclusions: One of five surfaces, that would probably receive invasive treatment, could be managed with non-invasive therapies. In case of diagnostic doubts, tooth separation using ORR should be used to verify the cavitation status of the approximal carious lesions.
Methods: This cross-sectional study examined approximal surfaces in primary molars of 6-to-11-year-old children attending dental clinic of the University of Talca. VI was performed by using ICDAS criteria and caries risk assessment was evaluated by employing Cariogram model. The mesial and distal surfaces were classified radiographically according to ADA Caries Classification System (E1 to D3). If lesions did not show a clear diagnosis of cavitation using these two methods, final diagnosis was defined by the teeth separation using ORR. Analyses included descriptive information and cross-tabulation of data per patient and per surface.
Results: A total of 122 approximal surfaces from 39 patients were examined with an average age of 8.00 (±0.22) years. The DMFT and dmft of the sample were 1.64 (±0.25) and 5.49 (±0.41), respectively. All children were at a high caries-risk. From all examined surfaces, 33% had a carious ICDAS code (2 to 6), and the most prevalent code encountered was 6 (8.7%; n=46) followed by code 4 (6.0%; n=32). Twenty-seven surfaces were evaluated after dental separation using ORR. Five of those surfaces (19%) were classified as ICDAS code 4 (VI) and D1 (BW), however they were not cavitated.
Conclusions: One of five surfaces, that would probably receive invasive treatment, could be managed with non-invasive therapies. In case of diagnostic doubts, tooth separation using ORR should be used to verify the cavitation status of the approximal carious lesions.