title: Progression of proximal caries in primary teeth in relation to radiographic scoring codes.
abstract: The posterior bitewing radiographs of 50 children from a Duraphat clinical trial were re-examined to compare the information provided on progression of caries of two scoring systems, that of Murray & Majid (1) and that of Pitts (2). Pitts' scoring system (Method 1), by recording the disease process at an earlier stage, and by avoiding the unnecessary loss of data, provided a more complete overall picture of the carious process than the scoring system used by Murray & Majid (Method 2). The progression rates were found to be significantly faster with Method 2 (P less than 0.05). With Method 1, a mean of 60% of enamel lesions per subject had remained confined to enamel 12 months later, the corresponding figure for Method 2 was 37%. Method 2, by excluding outer enamel lesions and overlapped surfaces, introduces biases which favour overestimating the proportion of lesions deemed to have progressed. The diagnostic criteria used by Murray & Majid lead to an overestimation of the rate of progression of caries in primary teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheiham
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*