Objectives: The aim of this CBCT investigation on the detection of caries was to assess the influence of artefacts produced by the presence of amalgam fillings located in the vicinity. Methods: 102 non-cavitated pre-molar and molar teeth were placed in blocks of silicone with approximal contacts consisting of 3 sound or carious teeth and 1 mesial-occlusal-distal amalgam-filled tooth in-between. Radiographs of all the teeth were recorded using the CBCT system (NewTomÔ 3G; QR Srl, Verona, Italy; field of view, 9 inches). Data from the CBCT unit were reconstructed and sectioned in the mesiodistal tooth plane. Images were evaluated twice by two observers, using a five-step confidence scale. After the CBCT examination, the teeth were individually sectioned in the mesiodistal direction with a diamond saw. Using a light microscope at 340 magnification, the true morphological status of all approximal surfaces was established. Results: Sensitivity of the CBCT for the detection of caries on surfaces located proximally and distally to an amalgam filing ranged from 0.27 to 0.30 for enamel and from 0.47 to 0.56 for dentin. Specificity values for enamel proximal and distal lesions were 0.48 and 0.53, respectively, for enamel and 0.33 to 0.38, respectively, for proximal and distal dentin cases. Intra-observer reliability was 0.84, and interobserver reliability was 0.49. Conclusions: Owing to its low specificity, scans from a CBCT examination should not be used to determine the presence of demineralization of the tooth surface when amalgam fillings are present in the region of interest.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the detection of noncavitated occlusal caries lesions and to compare this accuracy with that observed with conventional radiographs. 135 human teeth, 67 premolars and 68 molars with macroscopically intact occlusal surfaces, were examined by two independent observers using the CBCT system: NewTom 3G (Quantitative Radiology) and intraoral conventional film (Kodak Insight). The true lesion diagnosis was established by histological examination. The detection methods were compared by means of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy. To assess intra- and interobserver agreement, weighted kappa coefficients were computed. Analyses were performed separately for caries reaching into dentin and for all noncavitated lesions. For the detection of occlusal lesions extending into dentin, sensitivity values were lower for film (0.45) when compared with CBCT (0.51), but the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.19). For all occlusal lesions sensitivity values were 0.32 and 0.22, respectively, for CBCT and film. The specificity scores were high for both modalities. Interobserver agreement amounted to 0.93 for the CBCT system and to 0.87 for film. It was concluded that the use of the 9-inch field of view NewTom CBCT unit for the diagnosis of noncavitated occlusal caries cannot be recommended.
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