Overview
The goal of this observational study is to compare the diagnostic performance of three detection methods for approximal carious lesions in primary molars among pediatric patients aged 4-10 years. The study focuses on children in three age groups: 4-6 years, 6-8 years, and 8-10 years. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Are the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) different across the three diagnostic techniques (bitewing radiography, near-infrared light transillumination, and their combination)?
- Are these diagnostic parameters influenced by patient age?
- Which technique yields the highest level of patient acceptance?
Researchers will compare the three diagnostic approaches to determine whether age influences diagnostic performance and patient acceptance.
Participants will:
- Be examined using bitewing radiography and near-infrared light transillumination
- Undergo tooth separation for 7 days using orthodontic elastic separators
- Receive clinical examination of the target approximal surface
- Be asked to rate their experience using the Simplified Facial Pain Scale (S-FPS)
Description
- 58 carious lesions classified as RA2 and RA3 according to the ICDAS II criteria from
three groups of 4-6 years, 6-8 years, and 8-10 years pediatric patients will be
examined by near-infrared light transillumination
- The patient acceptance towards bitewing radiograph and near-infrared light transillumination will be evulated by Simplified Facial Pain Scale (S-FPS)
- Diagnostic performance will be assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve (AUC)
- The diagnostic efficacy of the caries detection methods will be analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, and patient acceptance will be assessed using the Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence level.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy Children aged 4-10 years
- Low risk for periodontal disease
- At least one quadrant contains fully erupted, well-aligned adjacent primary molars that are free of restorations, exhibit no clinically visible cavitated caries, demonstrate tooth mobility of grade 2 or less, show no developmental dental anomalies
- Bitewing radiographs show at least one radiolucent lesion in the proximal surface of a primary molar classified as RA2 or RA3 according to the ICDAS II radiographic criteria
Exclusion Criteria:
- Root resorption exceeding two-thirds of the root length
- Demonstrate Frankl's behavior rating scale of 1 during either near-infrared light transillumination examination or tooth separation