title: Validity of MicroCT for in vitro detection of proximal carious lesions in primary molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to validate the MicroCT for detection of proximal carious lesions in primary molars, using histology as the gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight proximal surfaces of primary molars were examined. Two calibrated examiners conducted the examinations independently. Proximal surfaces were visually scored, using ICDAS. Bitewing radiographs, Micro-CT and histological analyses used caries scores: 0=sound; 1=outer enamel; 2=inner enamel; 3=not spread dentine; 4=outer dentine; 5=inner dentine. Axial and sagital images were used for Micro-CT analysis, whilst for histology, tooth sections (400μm) were analyzed stereomicroscopically (×15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-examiner agreement ranged from 0.87 to 0.93 kappa coefficient (k). Histological analysis revealed a frequency of sound tooth surfaces (18.8%) enamel carious lesions (E1) (48%) and dentine carious lesions (D1) (33.3%). MicroCT showed high correlation with histology (r(s)0.88). At both diagnostic thresholds (E1 and D1), sensitivity and accuracy were higher for MicroCT. Inter-device agreement between MicroCT and histology was k=0.81. No difference was found between MicroCT and histology as gold standards for detecting carious lesions using ICDAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MicroCT can be used as a gold standard for detecting carious lesions in proximal surfaces in primary molars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. verasoviero@gmail.com
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Soviero
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography