Aim: The aim of this study was to assess inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility and accuracy in the detection and assessment of occlusal caries in extracted human teeth using a newly developed visual method for caries diagnosis (International Caries Detection and Assessment System, ICDAS-II). Serial sectioning and microscopy were used as the ‘gold standard’. Methods: The occlusal surfaces of 100 teeth were examined by 4 dentists using the ICDAS-II graded scores 0–6. Thereafter the teeth were serially sectioned and assessed for depth of the lesion with two histological classification systems. Results: The weighted kappa values for inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility for the ICDAS-II examination were 0.62–0.83. There was a moderate relationship between the visual and both histological examinations (r_s = 0.43–0.72). At the D1 diagnostic threshold (enamel and dentine lesions) specificity was 0.74–0.91 and sensitivity was 0.59–0.73. At the D3 diagnostic threshold (dentine lesions) specificity was 0.82–0.94 and sensitivity was 0.48–0.83 for the 4 examiners. Conclusion: The ICDAS-II system has demonstrated reproducibility and diagnostic accuracy for the detection of occlusal caries at varying stages of the disease process which are comparable to previously reported data using similar visual classification systems.

Inexperienced operators achieved better canal preparations with rotary instruments than with manual files. No difference in fracture rate was recorded between the two systems.

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Pre-clinical endodontic education varied considerably between German universities because of differences in programme design, staff and course content.

The aim of this paper was to examine the result of rotary root canal preparation with the nickel-titanium (NiTi) systems K3, ProTaper and Mtwo. One hundred and fifty curved artificial root canals and 60 mesial canals of human mandibular molars were selected. In the group of curved artificial canals, all canals were prepared to size 35/0.04 taper with the three systems. In the group of human mandibular molars, the teeth with mature root canals were radiographed with silver points inserted in bucco-lingual and in mesio-distal positions. In the artificial root group, one K3 instrument separated. Mtwo (20%) showed significantly (P = 0.003) less zips than K3 (46.9%) or ProTaper (50%). There were no significant differences in ledge and elbow formation. K3 and Mtwo had the lowest percentage of canal transportation. There was no significant difference regarding the preparation length or the condition of the apical foramina following the preparation. Canals prepared with K3 (26.5%) were significantly (P < 0.001) less tapered than ProTaper (62%) and Mtwo (82%). In the human mandibular molar group, one Mtwo and one ProTaper instrument separated. No significant differences were found in the preparation length, transportation or taper. The three systems tested, K3, Mtwo and ProTaper, achieved good preparation results.