The correlation of DIFOTI to clinical and radiographic images in Class II carious lesions.
BACKGROUND
The authors conducted a study to evaluate the correlation between digital imaging fiber-optic transillumination (DIFOTI) (KaVo Dental, Lake Zurich, Ill.) and clinical and radiographic images in estimating the true clinical axial extension of Class II carious lesions.


METHODS
The authors examined 51 Class II carious lesions visually, imaged them by means of DIFOTI and radiographed them with D-speed film and a complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS)-based digital radiographic sensor. They validated axial extension of the lesions clinically. They compared the clinical and radiographic depths of the carious lesion with the size of the lesion on the DIFOTI images.


RESULTS
The authors detected 84 percent of the lesions with DIFOTI, and 82 percent showed a visible dark shadow under the marginal ridge when examined clinically. DIFOTI correlated significantly with the clinical depth of decay (Pearson r = 0.43189). The combination of a CMOS digital sensor and DIFOTI (R2 = 0.7210) provided readings closer to the clinical measures than did the combination of D-speed film and DIFOTI (R2 = 0.6215).


CONCLUSIONS
DIFOTI images correlated with clinical depth, especially in smaller lesions, and improved the estimation of lesion size when used in conjunction with the CMOS digital sensor and D-speed images.


CONCLUSIONS
Using radiographs in combination with DIFOTI images could help clinicians determine the presence and, to some extent, the size of proximal caries, especially in smaller lesions.
Bin-Shuwaish
Mohammed
M
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Yaman
Peter
P
Dennison
Joseph
J
Neiva
Gisele
G
D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D023861:Photography, Dental; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014172:Transillumination / Q000379:methods*; D014962:X-Ray Film; D055815:Young Adult