Pen-type laser fluorescence device versus bitewing radiographs for caries detection on approximal surfaces

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Oral Health

Background:

• Accurate detection of approximal caries presents diagnostic challenges.
• Traditional methods like bitewing radiographs have limitations.
• Novel diagnostic tools are needed for improved caries detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a pen-type laser fluorescence device (LF pen) in detecting approximal carious lesions.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of the LF pen against bitewing radiographs (BW).
• To determine the suitability of the LF pen as an alternative diagnostic tool in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 20 patients (average age 26.70 years) examined 341 tooth surfaces.
• Examinations included visual inspection, bitewing radiography (BW), and assessment with the LF pen.
• Bitewing radiographs served as the gold standard for analysis.

Main Results:

• The LF pen demonstrated high specificity (96.8%) and sensitivity (83.0%) for detecting approximal caries at the D3 level with a cut-off value of 15.
• These performance metrics were comparable to those obtained with bitewing radiographs.
• Visual inspection showed lower sensitivity (4.3%) despite high specificity (99.3%).

Conclusions:

• The LF pen shows comparable diagnostic accuracy to bitewing radiographs for detecting dentin caries on approximal surfaces.
• The LF pen is a recommended alternative to traditional radiographs in routine dental practice.
• This device can aid in the early and accurate detection of approximal caries.