Do technology-based devices improve carious lesion detection?

Abstract

Objective:  To compare the visual-tactile examination with the technology-based caries detection examinations in children. Methods: We assessed the teeth next to the cleft area of 95 children aged 6 to 12 years with oral clefts but without the presence of any associated syndrome or craniofacial anomaly, according to the following detection methods: visual-tactile examination (Method 1), visual-tactile examination through operating microscope (Method 2), visual examination through LED-based fluorescence device (Method 3), using ICDAS-II scores. The caries detection methods were compared by Friedman test (P<0.05). Results: The efficacy of carious lesion detection methods were statistically similar (P=0.786). Conclusions: Technology-based devices did not improve caries diagnosis in children because their results were similar to those of visual-tactile clinical examination. From a clinical point of view, we recommended the dentists to be cautious in using these additional diagnostic measures to avoid false positive errors mainly in tooth surfaces difficult to be examined.Keywords: Dental Caries. Lenses. Fluorescence. Cleft lip. Cleft palate.