title: Laser fluorescence of caries detection in permanent teeth in vitro: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The detection of dental caries in the early stages, particularly on the occlusal surfaces, has become a mainstay of contemporary clinical practice. The objective of the study was to verify the accuracy of laser fluorescence for caries detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IBECS, BIOSIS, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Congress Abstracts, and Grey literature databases was undertaken from 1980 through January 2016. We included cross-sectional studies that evaluated laser fluorescence in caries diagnoses in vitro and compared them with histological analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 39 articles were included in the meta-analysis, which included 2082 caries sites. The pooled sensitivity was 0.71 (0.69, 0.73), and the specificity was 0.81 (0.73, 0.82). The diagnostic odds ratio was 14.93 (11.2, 19.9). A summary receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed. The area under the curve was 0.865.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis showed that laser fluorescence in vitro had the ability to diagnose occlusal caries lesions in permanent teeth and enamel and dentin caries.
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Maria I
authors: MI
authors: Rosa
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Vilson S
authors: VS
authors: Schambeck
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo R
authors: ER
authors: Dondossola
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Maria Cm
authors: MC
authors: Alexandre
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Lisiane
authors: L
authors: Tuon
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Antonio J
authors: AJ
authors: Grande
authors: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense Ringgold standard institution Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Hugo
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D017594:Publication Bias; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
keywords: Caries Detector; Dental caries; laser fluorescence; meta-analysis; systematic review