1. Influence of 2 caries-detecting devices on clinical decision making and lesion depth for suspicious occlusal lesions: A randomized trial from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.
- Author
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Makhija, Sonia K., Bader, James D., Shugars, Daniel A., Litaker, Mark S., Nagarkar, Sanket, Gordan, Valeria V., Rindal, D. Brad, Pihlstrom, Daniel J., Mungia, Rahma, Meyerowitz, Cyril, and Gilbert, Gregg H.
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DIAGNOSIS of dental caries , *DENTIN , *DENTAL caries , *DENTAL equipment , *OPERATIVE dentistry , *DENTISTS , *ORAL disease diagnosis , *OPERATIVE surgery , *DECISION making in clinical medicine , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *RANDOMIZED controlled trials , *SURGERY - Abstract
Background. A suspicious occlusal carious lesion (SOCL) can be defined as a lesion with no cavitation and no radiographic radiolucency but for which caries is suspected. The authors evaluated whether using a device changed the percentage of SOCLs that were opened surgically and, among those SOCLs that were opened, the proportion that had penetrated into dentin. Methods. Eighty-two dentists participated. In phase 1 of the study, dentists identified approximately 20 SOCLs, obtained patient consent, and recorded information about the lesion, treatment or treatments, and depth, if opened. Dentists were then randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups: no device, DIAGNOdent (KaVo), and Spectra (Air Techniques). In phase 2, dentists enrolled approximately 20 additional patients and recorded the same phase 1 information while using the assigned device to help make their treatment decisions. A mixed-model logistic regression was used to determine any differences after randomization in the proportion of lesions opened and, if opened, the proportion of lesions that penetrated into dentin. Results. A total of 1,500 SOCLs were enrolled in each phase. No statistically significant difference was found in the change in proportion of lesions receiving invasive treatment from phase 1 to phase 2 across the 3 groups (P = .33) or in the change in proportion of percentage of opened lesions that extended into dentin (P = .31). Conclusion. Caries-detecting devices in the study did not change substantially dentists' decisions to intervene or the accuracy of the intervention decision in predicting lesion penetration into dentin. Practical Implications. The caries-detecting devices tested may not improve dentists' clinical decision making for SOCLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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