title: Effect of drying on the reproducibility of DIAGNOdent to detect caries-like lesions.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the drying effect on the reproducibility of DIAGNOdent (Dd) devices to detect caries-like lesions. Three areas were created in each of the 34 bovine incisors: sound (S), demineralized (DE) and remineralized (RE). One examiner measured each area with two Dd devices (denominated X and Y), twice under humid, and twice under dry condition. Intra-rater agreement according each device and inter-device agreement were estimated by kappa statistics (k). Intra-rater agreement for device Y was substantial under humid (κ (DE)=0.68 and κ (RE+S)=0.68) and dry condition (k DE=0.64 and k RE+S=0.67). For device X, it was substantial under humid condition (k DE=0.57 and k RE+S=0.49), and it was almost perfect after air drying (κ (DE)=1.0 and κ (RE+S)=1.0). Inter-device agreement was slight (k =0.17) under humid condition, and it was substantial under dry condition (k =0.62). As reproducibility increased under dry condition, drying is advised to detect caries-like lesions on free smooth surfaces when different devices are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Araraquara Dental School, São Paulo State University. cpinelli@foar.unesp.br
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: Leonor de Castro Monteiro
authors.initials: Lde C
authors.lastname: Loffredo
authors.forename: Mônica Campos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003890:Desiccation; D006813:Humidity; D007834:Lasers; D015588:Observer Variation; D011897:Random Allocation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000175:diagnosis; D014089:Tooth Remineralization