Comparative performance of three methods for detection of approximal caries

Objective: To evaluate the performance of two digital images for detecting initial posterior approximal caries compared with film, the conventional method . Methods:A total of 204 approximal surfaces from 102 extracted posterior teeth were examined by making direct , indirect digital and conventional film images of each .6 experienced dentists scored the proximal surfaces of these teeth for the extent of lesions. The teeth were subsequently sectioned to determine the actual caries depth.. The histological appearance of sectioned teeth was used as the validating criterion (gold standard) to assess sensitivity, specificity, accuracy , and reproducibility. Results: The sensitivity of three system was not significantly different ,but film was better than those of digital images at the level of enamel caries,wherease the reproducibility of film was moderate.Conclusions: The conventional method is still an important and reasonably accurate method for the detection of initial posterior approximal caries in present clinic practice. Whereas, its application has some limits. Dentists using a direct digital system performed as well in interpreting proximal surface caries as with film .This suggests that for this task these two competing systems are diagnostically comparable.