Comparison of The Canary System and DIAGNOdent for the in vitro detection of caries under opaque dental sealants.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of operators using The Canary System and DIAGNOdent to detect natural pit and fissure caries under four commonly-used opaque dental sealants.


METHODS
Mixed sound and carious pits/fissures (N = 105) selected from 40 human teeth were randomly assigned (10 teeth/group) to one of four opaque sealant groups (Delton, Embrace WetBond, Helioseal F, UltraSeal XT Plus). Selected pits/fissures sites on occlusal surfaces were scanned with The Canary System and DIAGNOdent, sealed, re-scanned, and subjected to polarized light microscopy to confirm whether the scanned regions were sound or carious. Sensitivities and specificities for each detection method before and after sealant placement were calculated.


RESULTS
The Canary System and DIAGNOdent were able to distinguish between sound and carious tissue beneath opaque sealants with an accuracy of 76% and 59%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The Canary System can serve as a clinical tool to aid dental professionals to detect and monitor the status of caries lesions and tooth structure underneath sealant. The increased likelihood of false-positive diagnoses with DIAGNOdent due to intrinsic auto-fluorescence of sealant filler and opacifying agents might limit its usefulness as an aid to detect caries underneath opaque sealants.
Quantum Dental Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Josh D
JD
Silvertown
Quantum Dental Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bonny P Y
BPY
Wong
Quantum Dental Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Cliffcrest Dental Office, Scarborough, ON, Canada.
Stephen H
SH
Abrams
Quantum Dental Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Koneswaran S
KS
Sivagurunathan
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Sapna M
SM
Mathews
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Bennett T
BT
Amaechi
D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants
Sealant; The Canary System; caries detection; occlusal caries; photothermal radiometry-luminescence