Bülent Altunkaynak

In vivo comparison of laser fluorescence measurements with conventional methods for occlusal caries detection

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the laser fluorescence (LF) (DIAGNOdent) measurements comparing with visual examination and conventional bitewing radiography for occlusal caries detection. The study comprised 44 occlusal surfaces. Three examiners independently evaluated the teeth by visual examination, LF measurements, and bitewing radiographs. After the evaluations, the teeth were opened, and the clinical lesion depth was determined. One-way variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed for comparison of observers. The diagnostic performance of three methods was assessed by using non-parametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman rank correlation). No statistically significant difference was found between observers (p > 0.05), and statistically significant difference was found between diagnostic systems (p < 0.01). The correlation of LF measurements with the clinical lesion depth was better than visual examination and bitewing radiography. This result concluded that LF may be a useful adjunct to visual examination, and the diagnostic performance of this device seems to be good for occlusal caries detection.

The efficiency of operating microscope compared with unaided visual examination, conventional and digital intraoral radiography for proximal caries detection.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of operating microscope compared with unaided visual examination, conventional and digital intraoral radiography for proximal caries detection. Materials and Methods. The study was based on 48 extracted human posterior permanent teeth. The teeth were examined with unaided visual examination, operating microscope, conventional bitewing and digital intraoral radiographs. Then, true caries depth was determined by histological examination. The extent of the carious lesions was assessed by three examiners independently. One way variance of analysis (ANOVA) and Scheffe test were performed for comparison of observers, and the diagnostic accuracies of all systems were assessed from the area under the ROC curve (A z). Results. Statistically significant difference was found between observers (P < .01). There was a statistically significant difference between operating microscope-film radiography, operating microscope-RVG, unaided visual examination-film radiography, and unaided visual examination-RVG according to pairwise comparison (P < .05). Conclusion. The efficiency of operating microscope was found statistically equal with unaided visual examination and lower than radiographic systems for proximal caries detection.

The comparison of subjective image quality in conventional and digital panoramic radiography.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the subjective image quality of (1) regular intensifying screens with medium intensifying screens, (2) regular intensifying screens with digital radiography, and (3) medium intensifying screens with digital radiography for panoramic radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-five patients participated and a total of 90 radiographs were obtained in the study. The patients were divided into three groups (regular-medium intensifying screen, regular intensifying screen-digital radiography, and medium intensifying screen-digital radiography) that consisted of 15 people each. All radiographs were assessed by three oral radiologists independently. The observers evaluated the images using a 3-point scale (1=well visible, 0=partly visible, -1=not or hardly visible) for anatomical structures and pathological findings that are commonly found on panoramic radiographs. Subjective image quality of the groups and comparison of the observers were assessed by using non parametric Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS For all groups and observers, no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was found for both anatomical structures and pathologies and between anatomical structures and pathologies according to the Mann Whitney U test. In comparison with observers, no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was found for both anatomical structures and pathologies and between anatomical structures and pathologies for all groups according to the Kruskal Wallis test. CONCLUSION The subjective image quality of medium and regular intensifying screens and conventional and digital panoramic radiographs were found statistically equal in this study.

A pilot study of the effects of a vacuum sealing barrier method for photostimulable phosphor plates regarding plate damage and prevention of microbiologic cross-contamination

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new sealing method for preventing cross-contamination of photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates. STUDY DESIGN Twelve new PSP plates were divided into 3 groups (PSP-a, PSP-b, and PSP- c) and placed in 3 different barriers (2 different brands of envelopes and a vacuum sealing method). All plates were exposed to X-rays with an aluminum step wedge, and the images were evaluated for the presence of any artifacts. After radiography, the PSP plates were removed from the barriers. The barriers and the PSP plates were disinfected and culture performed to assess any microorganism burden. Subsequently, the PSP plates were coated again with all barriers. The barriers were then contaminated and microbiologic specimens were collected. Subsequently, the barriers were wiped with alcohol. The PSP plates were removed, and microbiologic specimens were obtained. RESULTS No artifacts were recorded on the radiographic images on the sensors in any group. Microorganisms were detected on the PSP plates placed in envelopes. No colonization of microorganisms was detected on the vacuum sealed PSP plates. CONCLUSIONS The new vacuum-sealing method may be useful in preventing cross-contamination of PSP plates during radiographic procedures.

Bootstrap confidence intervals for the coefficient of quartile variation

ABSTRACT In non-normal populations, it is more convenient to use the coefficient of quartile variation rather than the coefficient of variation. This study compares the percentile and t-bootstrap confidence intervals with Bonetts confidence interval for the quartile variation. We show that empirical coverage of the bootstrap confidence intervals is closer to the nominal coverage (0.95) for small sample sizes (n = 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 15) for most distributions studied. Bootstrap confidence intervals also have smaller average width. Thus, we propose using bootstrap confidence intervals for the coefficient of quartile variation when the sample size is small.

DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN DETECTING SECONDARY CARIES UNDER COMPOSITE FILLINGS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the diagnostic performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the detection of secondary carious lesions under composite resin fillings applied to different types of cavities. Materials and Methods: Occlusal cavities (O) (n=18), occlusal cavities with mesial or distal component (MO/DO) (n=30), and mesial–occlusal–distal cavities (MOD) (n=30) were prepared in seventy eight extracted human posterior teeth. In half of the cavities in each group, artificial secondary caries lesions were simulated. All cavities were restored by using composite resin. All specimens were embedded in silicone and they were positioned to have approximal contacts. CBCT imaging was done and data were evaluated two times with two week interval by two observers, using a five-point confidence scale. Intra- and inter-observer agreements were calculated with Kappa statistics (κ). The area under (Az) the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. Results: Intra- (κ =0.89) and inter-observer (κ = 0.79) agreements were found to be excellent. Az values were highest for the O restorations which is followed by the MOD and DO/MO restorations. Az values for MOD and DO/MO restorations were very low and no statistically significant difference was found. Sensitivity for DO/MO restorations and specificity for MOD restorations were found to be the lowest values. Conclusion: Diagnostic performance of CBCT was higher in O composite restorations than MOD and DO/MO restorations for secondary caries detection. The use of alternative imaging methods rather than CBCT may be useful for evaluating secondary caries under composite MOD and DO/MO restorations.

Gömülü daimi maksiller kanin dişlerin lokalizasyonunun belirlenmesi için panoramik radyografi ve konik-ışınlı bilgisayarli tomografi görüntülerinde yapılan nitel ve nicel ölçümlerin karşılaştırılması

Amac: Bu retrospektif calismanin amaci; gomulu daimi maksiller kanin dislerin lokalizasyonunun belirlenmesinde, ve diger nitel ve nicel degiskenler icin, dijital panoramik radyografi (DPR) ve konik-isinli bilgisayarli tomografi (KIBT) goruntulerinde yapilan degerlendirmeler arasindaki uyumlulugun karsilastirilmasidir. Gerec ve Yontem: Calismada 60 hastanin (43 kadin ve 17 erkek) DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri iki gozlemci tarafindan, birbirinden bagimsiz olarak incelendi. DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri arasindaki iliski, nitel (gomulu daimi maksiller kanin dislerin bukko-palatal yondeki lokalizasyonu, komsu daimi lateral kesici dis kokunde rezorpsiyon varligi, gomulu daimi maksiller kanin disler ve komsu daimi lateral kesici arasindaki kontakt iliskisi) ve nicel degiskenler (aci olcumleri) yonunden degerlendirildi. Veri istatisksel olarak ki-kare ve t-testleri ile analiz edildi. Gozlemci ici ve gozlemciler arasi uyum Kappa istatistigi ile incelendi (Cohen’s κ). Bulgular: Gomulu daimi maksiller kanin dislerin bukko-palatal yondeki lokalizasyonunun belirlenmesinde DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir korelasyon bulunamadi (p>0.05). Diger nitel degiskenler icin DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli korelasyon vardi (p<0.05). Tum nicel degiskenler icin DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli fark bulundu (p<0.01). Yapilan tum incelemelerde gozlemci ici ve gozlemciler arasi degerlendirmeler tutarli bulundu. Sonuc: Gomulu daimi maksiller kanin dislerin bukko-palatal yondeki lokalizasyonunun belirlenmesinde DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri arasinda anlamli bir korelasyon bulunamadi. DPR ve KIBT goruntuleri uzerinde yapilan tum nicel olcumler birbirinden belirgin bir sekilde farklilik gosterdi.