Radiographic diagnoses and treatment decisions on approximal caries.
The purpose of the study was to examine the quality of radiographic caries diagnosis by dentists; the frequency of operative treatment decisions; and the frequency and pattern of proposals to fill sound surfaces. Radiographs of 68 approximal surfaces of extracted teeth were duplicated and examined by 243 dentists. A "true" diagnosis was established by direct inspection and probing. Great variation existed in diagnostic quality between dentists. Restoration therapy made up 15.6 of surfaces on average (SD = 6.5, range 0-66). Fillings were proposed for about 5% of the sound surfaces. About 25% of the dentists accounted for more than 80% of the treatment proposed for sound surfaces.
Espelid
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D000293:Adolescent; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D011859:Radiography