Clinically undetected occlusal dentine caries: a radiographic comparison

The occlusal bite-wing radiograph evaluations of 131 14-year-old and of 123 17- and 20-year-old Dutch persons were compared with the clinically collected observations. The clinical observations and the bite-wing radiographs were collected as part of a longitudinal epidemiological survey conducted in 1987 and 1990. Comparison of the evaluations of the first and second molar teeth showed significantly more radiolucencies in all three age groups than expected clinically. Of the clinically judged 'sound' surfaces, 26% in the 14-, 37.5% in the 17- and 50% in the 20-year-old group showed a radiolucency on the bite-wing radiograph. In the 14-, 17- and 20-year-old age group a radiolucency was noticed on the bite-wing radiograph in 32, 44 and 58% of the sealed teeth, respectively. The radiolucencies below the occlusal enamel of sealed teeth were most likely due to the problems in diagnosing occlusal dentine lesions correctly with the clinical diagnostic methods. Therefore not only approximal but also occlusal bite-wing radiograph judgement before sealant application seems to be advisable now. Because of the numbers of clinically undetected lesions it may be advisable to reconsider the criteria for occlusal diagnosis in epidemiological surveys and to judge not only the approximal but also the occlusal surfaces in epidemiological surveys when bite-wing radiographs are available.