Possibilities of modern x-ray examination methods for diagnostics of hidden dental caries of approximal localization

Abstract

Introduction: In case of hidden carious cavities development on the approximal teeth surfaces, the clinical diagnostics of this process is difficult. Then, the diagnostics of carious lesion is not possible without carrying out X-ray examination. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of clinical and X-ray diagnostics for hidden caries of approximal teeth surfaces. Materials and methods: Condition of 2 963 teeth of 115 people aged from 19 to 55 was analysed. Additionally, a digital panoramic 2D diagnostics (Planmeca ProSensor, Finland) and Cone Beam Computed Tomography 3D Diagnostics (Morita, Japan) were used for clinical examination of patients. Results: In both variants of diagnostics, the number of caries defects in the upper jaw was higher than in the lower one, and the frequency of caries lesion of various teeth groups had the following sequence in descending order: molar teeth, premolar teeth, incisor teeth and canine teeth. Hidden carious cavities of average depth and deep were detected with almost the same frequency in both variants of the study, which by 1.9 - 2.0 times respectively exceeded the frequency of superficial carious cavities detection (p = 0.0001). According to the results of clinical studies, hidden superficial carious cavities occurred in single cases and X-ray examination improved their diagnostics by 9.6 times (p = 0.0000). Conclusions: X-ray examination allows increasing the effectiveness of diagnostics of hidden carious cavities of approximal localization by 1.2 times on the whole (p <0,05). In such cases orthopantomography (OPG) has reasonably sufficient diagnostic capabilities. Definitely, 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has much more diagnostic capabilities, but its use can not be justified for the diagnostics of caries only.