Electrical methods in occlusal caries diagnosis: An in vitro comparison with visual inspection and bite-wing radiography.
The aim of this study was to compare in vitro diagnostic performance of three electrical methods for occlusal caries diagnosis with that of visual inspection and bite-wing radiography. One hundred and seven extracted molar and premolar teeth were subjected to the diagnostic methods by 2 operators and subsequently sectioned for histological validation. Electrical measurements were made at site level and at surface level using two different instruments. The diagnostic parameters calculated from the results were: sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy at a theoretical caries prevalence of 10% and area under the ROC curve. The electrical methods and bite-wing radiography showed higher sensitivity and lower specificity than visual inspection. Diagnostic accuracy was significantly lower for bite-wing radiography and one electrical method than for visual inspection. Overall diagnostic performance of two electrical methods was superior.
Huysmans
M C
MC
Department of Cariology and Endodontology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.m.huysmans@dent.kun.nl
Longbottom
C
C
Pitts
N
N
D019540:Area Under Curve; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity