Comparison of diagnostic effects of infrared imaging, visual inspection, and bitewing radiography in primary occlusal caries of permanent teeth

Abstract

Background: This study compared the diagnostic efficacy of VistaCam iX infrared camera, visual
inspection, and bitewing‑radiographs for the detection of primary occlusal caries of permanent
teeth.
Materials and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 80 extracted human premolars
were evaluated. The occlusal surfaces of these teeth were demineralized by immersion in a
demineralizing agent. Then, the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II),
bitewing‑radiography, and Proxi head of VistaCam iX were used to inspect them. The sensitivity,
specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for
each diagnostic modality. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Twenty‑five at P < 0.05 level of significance
with one‑way analysis of variance and Games–Howell test.
Results: Bitewing‑radiography had significantly lower sensitivity than ICDAS II and
VistaCam (P < 0.05). ICDAS II was comparable to VistaCam, with no significant difference in
sensitivity (P > 0.05). ICDAS II had a significantly higher PPV than bitewing‑radiography and
VistaCam (P < 0.05). The sensitivity of bitewing radiography was significantly lower than that of
ICDAS II and VistaCam (P < 0.05). ICDAS II was comparable to that of VistaCam with no significant
differences in sensitivity (P > 0.05). ICDAS II had a considerably higher PPV than bitewing‑radiography
and VistaCam (P < 0.05). The NPV of ICDAS II visual inspection was significantly higher than that
of bitewing‑radiography and VistaCam (P < 0.05). The ICDASS II and VistaCam had a repeatability
coefficient of 47.4%. For bitewing‑radiography and VistaCam, this value was 44.2% and 83.4% for
ICDAS II and bitewing‑radiography.
Conclusion: Visual inspection seems to be superior to bitewing‑radiography and VistaCam in
detecting primary occlusal caries of permanent teeth.
Key Words: Bitewing, dental caries susceptibility, dentistry, fluorescence, radiography

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Aida Saffarpour: Pubmed,Google Scholar