title: Performance of laser fluorescence for the detection of enamel caries in non-cavitated occlusal surfaces: clinical study with total validation of the sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical performance of a laser fluorescence device in detecting enamel caries in non-cavitated occlusal surfaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 96 first and second permanent molars, selected according to the criteria of Ekstrand: 44 not suspected of having dentin caries (score: 0-2) and 52 under suspicion (score: 3-4). Once measured by laser fluorescence, all teeth were validated by fissurotomy (gold standard). To avoid ethical questions, the 44 teeth (score: 0-2) used were to serve as abutments for a fixed dental prostheses. Following fissurotomy, the 52 teeth with suspected caries were treated with resin composite restorations. Kruskall-Wallis statistical analysis (P<0.05) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser fluorescence showed an area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve of Az = 0.803 for enamel caries. The cut-off point with the highest sensitivity and specificity was 15, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.97 and 0.63, respectively. Values under 10 indicated healthy teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pathology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Seville, Seville, Spain. cabalos@us.es
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Planas
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaparro
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D005453:Fluorescence; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials