title: Clinical-radiographic correlation in occlusal surfaces.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to correlate clinical and radiographic diagnoses of the occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molars. A total of 56 first permanent molars with no macroscopic evidence of caries were selected from 40 children. A research worker performed the visual examination (VE) and an expert performed the radiographic analysis employing bitewing radiographs. Each professional performed diagnosis independently. The statistical analysis revealed: 1) Low correlation between both methods; Kappa: 0.03, p = 0.34; 2) Correlation between past history of caries and VE: taub Kendall 0.333, p = 0.003; no correlation between past history of caries and radiographic diagnosis: 0.002, p = 0.984; 3) No correlation between each of the methods of diagnosis and the age of the patients. The radiographic analysis showed a high revalence of radiolucid images, interpreted as caries, that failed to be detected by VE. To improve VE as a diagnostic method for pits and fissures we should combine various procedures and consider other clinical predictors.
authors.affiliation: X-ray Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amerise
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology