Radiographic versus clinical diagnosis of approximal carious lesions

For school-age children, in whom caries activity has declined considerably, the efficiency of bitewing radiographs in diagnosing approximal lesions requires reevaluation. Therefore parallel clinical and radiographic examination of approximal surfaces were carried out in 317 14-year-old children. To assess the degree of agreement between both methods sensitivity and negative predictive value were determined. At the same time previously published data of children aged 8 through 12 years were reassessed. From the results it is concluded that omission of radiographic examination will not result in a substantial loss of information under the age of 12, but above this age it is advisable to include radiographic diagnosis for approximal surfaces.