Validity of micro-CT for in vitro caries detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the validity of micro-CT for in vitro caries detection in comparison with histology as the reference standard. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the databases Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from their inception to 16 January 2019. Grey literature was searched on Open Grey, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database and Google Scholar. In vitro studies assessing the validity of micro-CT for caries detection were included when compared with histology as the reference standard were included. Two authors independently collected the information and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, as well as diagnostic odds ratios were calculated. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Certainty of evidence was assessed with GRADE. Results: A total of 270 papers were identified, and after a 2-phase selection, 12 studies were included in qualitative and three in quantitative synthesis. For enamel caries diagnostic, sensitivity values ranged from 29.0 to 84.0% indicating high variability while specificity varied from 88.0 to 95.0% indicating good to excellent micro-CT capability do identify the true negative. For dentine caries diagnostic, sensitivity values ranged from 61.0 to 77.0% indicating fair-to-good probability of micro-CT to identify the true positives, while specificity varied from 88.0 to 94.0%. The majority of the included studies presented low risk of bias and moderate certainty of evidence. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the validity of micro-CT for in vitro caries detection in comparison with histology.

Comparison Between Radiographs, White and Fluorescent Images in the Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions for Occlusal Caries: An Ex Vivo Study

“…Thus, Although histological processing and analysis is still used as a gold standard for dental caries detection, it is fundamentally a destructive method because it requires sectioning of the sample for microscopic examination. Therefore, the micro-CT technique used as the golden standard in the present study has been recently proposed and validated to define caries severity under laboratory conditions [13,14,24,25],…”

“…To measure the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of digital diagnostic alternatives for caries, a micro-CT technique has been proposed as a gold standard to validate caries severity under laboratory conditions [13,14], especially because histological methods have low accuracy in detecting the real depth of dentin lesions [15]. Thus, the aim of the present ex vivo study was to compare the agreement on caries diagnosis and treatment decisions of occlusal surfaces images of permanent carious teeth obtained by SoproLife ® , in white light and fluorescence mode, and digital radiographs, against a micro-CT gold standard.…”

Time-dependent effect of intense capsule-coffee and bleaching on the color of resin-infiltrated enamel white spot lesions: an in vitro study

“…Micro-computed tomography was used to confirm the formation of subsurface lesions that would be like clinically detected WSLs. This is a validated method for detecting subsurface lesions ( Oliveira et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The total volume of the demineralization solution used was determined using the following formula: Using this volume of similar demineralization solutions results in an almost 43 µm deep subsurface lesion ( Magalhães et al, 2009 ). The establishment of sub-enamel demineralized lesions on each tooth’s exposed buccal and lingual surfaces was validated using micro-computed tomography (SkyScan 1172; Kontich, Belgium) ( Oliveira et al, 2020 ). Figure 1 shows a micro-CT image of the artificial WSLs created.…”

The Effect of Solutions Containing Extracts of <b><i>Vochysia tucanorum</i></b> Mart., <b><i>Myrcia bella</i></b>Cambess., <b><i>Matricaria chamomilla</i></b> L. and <b><i>Malva sylvestris</i></b> L. on Cariogenic Bacterial Species and Enamel Caries Development

“…To validate the information provided by SD-OCT, a representative image of each group was obtained by micro-CT, a sensitive method to detect early lesions produced in vitro [Hamba et al, 2012] and the reference standard for the analysis of proximal enamel surfaces [Oliveira et al, 2020]. The selected micro-CT images confirmed that a demineralized surface area was detectable.…”