Stefania Martignon

Detection and Activity Assessment of Primary Coronal Caries Lesions: A Methodologic Study

This study has three main objectives: Study (1) test the reproducibility and accuracy of the ICDAS I and ICDAS II caries detection systems; Study (2) validate a new impression material (Clinpro, 3M ESPE), which is said to detect lactic acid in plaque fermenting sucrose; Study (3) devise and test a scoring system for the assessment of caries activity of coronal lesions. Study (1): 141 extracted teeth were examined by two examiners using the ICDAS I and ICDAS II caries detection systems and validated against a histological classification system. Study (2): The accuracy of the impression material in predicting plaque with pH lower/higher than 5.5 was determined in an in situ study of 45 root dentin specimens by comparing the color change in the impression with the actual pH of the plaque, determined with a pH meter. Study (3): A scoring system to assess lesion activity was devised based on the predictive power of the visual appearance of the lesion (ICDAS II system), location of the lesion in a plaque stagnation area and, finally, the tactile feeling, rough/soft or smooth/hard, when running a perio-probe over the lesion. The accuracy was tested in a clinical study of 35 children with 225 lesions/sound surfaces and was validated using the Clinpro impression material for construct validity. Study (1): Intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility was found to be excellent (Kappa-values > 0.82) and the associations strong (Spearmans correlation coefficients > 0.90). Study (2): The Clinpro impression material was found to be acceptable as compared to the results of a pH meter, the combined sensitivity and specificity was 1.63. Study (3): ROC analysis showed that the devised classification system for determining lesion activity had acceptable accuracy (area under curve = 0.84 and the highest combined sum of specificity and sensitivity was 1.67). Thus, it is possible to predict lesion depth and assess the activity of primary coronal caries lesions accurately by using the combined knowledge obtained from visual appearance, location of the lesion and tactile sensation during probing.

Treatment of Proximal Superficial Caries Lesions on Primary Molar Teeth with Resin Infiltration and Fluoride Varnish versus Fluoride Varnish Only: Efficacy after 1 Year

This split-mouth study aimed to assess the efficacy of resin-infiltrated lesions covered by fluoride varnish (FV) versus FV treatment only of proximal lesions on deciduous molar teeth. The study lasted for 1 year. Children with 2 or more superficial proximal lesions on deciduous molar teeth detected on bitewing radiographs were included. After written parental consent, two lesions in each of 50 children were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: resin infiltration followed by FV (2.26% F) application (test lesion) versus only FV (control lesion). The ICDAS scores of the selected lesions were recorded by 2 clinicians before the treatments (weighted kappa for inter- and intra-examiner agreement >0.79). FV was applied to both test and control lesions 6 and 12 months after the first treatment. After 1 year ICDAS scores were obtained for 42 children and radiographs for 39. One external examiner not familiar with the study scored the radiographs twice (weighted kappa 0.88). Baseline mean age of the children was 7.17 ± (SD) 0.68 and mean def-s was 8.1 ± (SD) 6.9. After 1 year the ICDAS scores of 31% of the test lesions and 67% of the control lesions had progressed (p < 0.01). Radiographically, 23% of the test lesions and 62% of the control lesions had progressed (p < 0.01). Thus, the clinical and radiographic therapeutic effect of both resin infiltration/FV over FV alone was >35% and significant. To conclude, resin infiltration in conjunction with fluoride varnish seems promising for controlling proximal lesion progression on deciduous molar teeth.

Efficacy of Sealing Proximal Early Active Lesions: An 18-Month Clinical Study Evaluated by Conventional and Subtraction Radiography

This study assessed the efficacy of sealing proximal lesions on adult patients using a split-mouth design. Eighty-two 15- to 39-year-olds from the Dental Faculties in Copenhagen and Bogotá participated, each having 2 or more proximal lesions in the following radiographic stages: (1) lesion restricted to the outer half of enamel; (2) lesion from the inner half of enamel including the enamel dentine junction, and (3) lesion restricted to the outer third of dentine. Standardized geometrically aligned baseline and follow-up radiographs were obtained. One randomly selected lesion (test) in each patient was sealed with 1 of 2 resins. The patients were instructed to floss all the proximal lesions 3 times per week. The baseline to 18 months difference in caries lesion progression status was assessed using 3 methods: (1) radiographs were independently assessed visually; (2) radiographs were read in pairs, and (3) using subtraction radiography of digitized images. A total of 72 subjects finished the study (12.2% dropout). The compliance concerning flossing was poor (15%). For the repeated examinations kappa was 0.84 for the visual examination, 0.44 for the paired readings and 0.84 for the subtraction examination. Two test lesions and 1 control lesion were restored. For the independent radiograph assessment method 10 and 26% progressed in the test and control group, respectively (p > 0.05); with the paired radiograph method the corresponding data were 22% in the test and 47% in the control groups (p < 0.01). By subtraction radiography 44% of the test group and 84% of the control were judged to have progressed (p < 0.001). The sealing technique was superior to instructing patients to floss, and subtraction radiography appeared to be the most sensitive method for assessing lesion progression.

Infiltrating/Sealing Proximal Caries Lesions A 3-year Randomized Clinical Trial

This randomized split-mouth controlled clinical trial aimed at assessing the therapeutic effects of infiltration vs. sealing for controlling caries progression on proximal surfaces. Out of 90 adult students/patients assessed at university clinics and agreeing to participate, 39, each with 3 proximal lesions identified radiographically around the enamel-dentin junction to the outer third of the dentin, were included. Lesions were randomly allocated for treatment to test-A (Infiltration: ICON-pre-product; DMG), test-B (Sealing: Prime-Bond-NT; Dentsply), or control-C (Placebo). Primary outcome after 1, 2, and 3 yrs of radiographically observed lesion progression was assessed by an independent examiner blinded to groups, using pair-wise and digital-subtraction readings. No adverse events occurred. In 37 participants assessed after 3 yrs, 10 lesions (A-4; B-2; C-4) progressed deep into dentin and needed operative treatment. The 3-year therapeutic effect, based on pair-wise radiographic readings between infiltration and placebo, was 37.8% (95%CI: 20.5-55.2%) and that between sealing and placebo was 29.7% (95%CI: 20.2-35.0%). One-year follow-up digital-subtraction readings showed significant differences in lesion progression between infiltration and placebo (P = 0.0012) and between sealing and placebo (P = 0.0269). The study showed that infiltration and sealing are significantly better than placebo treatment for controlling caries progression on proximal lesions. No significant difference was seen between infiltration and sealing (ClinicalTrials.gov number CT01417832).

Sealants in Dentistry: Outcomes of the ORCA Saturday Afternoon Symposium 2007

Sealants are a successful tool in caries prevention, but their role in preventive strategies after the caries decline has to be discussed. A survey of paediatric departments across Europe revealed that indications for pit and fissure sealants vary considerably, both nationally and internationally. Evidence for effectiveness of sealants in controlling caries in posterior teeth implies that sealants should be an integrated part of management of pit and fissure caries. Still, the indication for occlusal sealants seems to be shifting from primary prevention to a therapeutic decision for caries management of lesions in enamel and the outer part of the dentine. Sealants are also an interesting concept for caries management in approximal surfaces. Clinical trials suggest that novel techniques of sealing or infiltrating approximal lesions show promise. However, approximal sealing techniques are as complex to apply and time-consuming as approximal fillings. The article proposes guidelines for teaching on the use of sealants.

In vitro Comparison of Nyvad’s System and ICDAS-II with Lesion Activity Assessment for Evaluation of Severity and Activity of Occlusal Caries Lesions in Primary Teeth

This in vitro study of occlusal surfaces on primary molars aimed to: (1) evaluate the reproducibility of the Nyvad and ICDAS-II visual systems in detecting caries; (2) to test the accuracy of the systems in estimating lesion depth, and (3) to examine the association between the Nyvad system and the Lesion Activity Assessment system, an adjunct to ICDAS-II. Two samples of extracted primary molars (sample 1, n = 38; sample 2, n = 69) were evaluated independently by 2 examiners. In this in vitro study, evaluation of plaque in the Nyvad system was not possible. Histology (sample 2) was used to validate lesion depth. Area under ROC curves (Az), sensitivity, specificity and percent agreement of both systems were calculated at D1, D2 and D3 thresholds. Both systems showed kappa for intra- and inter-examiner agreement >0.86 and good correlation with histology: Spearman ρ = 0.73 (Nyvad) and 0.78 (ICDAS-II). They presented similar performances except that ICDAS-II showed significantly higher sensitivity (Nyvad 0.89; ICDAS 0.92) and Az (Nyvad 0.85; ICDAS 0.90) for the D1 threshold. The correlation between the systems for lesion activity (Cramer’s V) was 0.71. Therefore, both visual systems are reliable and can estimate caries lesion depth on primary teeth. Under in vitro conditions, there is no major difference between the Nyvad system and Lesion Activity Assessment in assessing caries activity.

Development and evaluation of two root caries controlling programmes for home-based frail people older than 75 years

OBJECTIVES (i) Initially, to devise and examine the validity of a system for determining lesion activity on root surfaces, and (ii) compare the effectiveness of two preventive programmes in controlling root caries in elderly people using the devised system. MATERIALS AND METHODS (i) Four clinical variables: texture, contour, location and colour of root caries lesions were selected to evaluate lesion activity. The intraexaminer reproducibility of the scoring system was assessed on 28 elderly patients. The accuracy was assessed on 10 of these persons using an impression material (Clinpro, 3M ESPE). (ii) Of total, 215 homebound 75+ year olds were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1, once a month a dental hygienist brushed the teeth of the participants and applied Duraphat vanish to active root caries lesions. The participants in groups 2 and 3 received 5000 and 1450 ppm F-toothpaste, respectively, to use twice a day. This study included an interview, a baseline examination and a final follow-up examination after 8 months. RESULTS (i) Intraexaminer reproducibility of the root caries scoring system was 0.86 (Kappa). The sensitivity and specificity was 0.86 and 0.81. (ii) Data from those 189 (88%) who completed the study disclosed that there were no inter-group differences at the baseline examination concerning relevant conditions. At the end of the study, the root caries status of participants in groups 1 and 2 had improved significantly when compared with group 3 (p < 0.02). No significant difference was observed between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION The data suggest that the root caries scoring system is reliable. Both the intervention programmes controlled root caries development; the hygienist in eight of 10 persons, the 5000 ppm F-toothpaste in seven of 10. In contrast, five of 10 participants who only brushed with 1450 ppm F-toothpaste had root caries progression.

Clinical Performance of Two Visual Scoring Systems in Detecting and Assessing Activity Status of Occlusal Caries in Primary Teeth

This study aimed to compare the clinical performance of two sets of visual scoring criteria for detecting caries severity and assessing caries activity status in occlusal surfaces. Two visual scoring systems – the Nyvad criteria (NY) and the ICDAS-II including an adjunct system for lesion activity assessment (ICDAS-LAA) – were compared using 763 primary molars of 139 children aged 3–12 years. The examinations were performed by 2 calibrated examiners. A subsample (n = 50) was collected after extraction and histology with 0.1% red methyl dye was performed to validate lesion depth and activity. The reproducibility of the indices was calculated (kappa test) and ROC analysis was performed to assess their validity and related parameters were compared using McNemar’s test. The association between the indices and with the histological examination was evaluated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs). Visual criteria showed excellent reproducibility both regarding severity (NY: 0.94; ICDAS-II: 0.91) and activity (NY: 0.90; LAA: 0.91). The NY and LAA showed good association in caries activity assessment (rs = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.86–0.89; p < 0.001). Nevertheless, considering only cavitated lesions, this association was not significant (p > 0.05). Concerning the severity, both indices presented similar validity parameters. At D2 threshold, the sensitivity was higher for NY (NY = 0.87; ICDAS = 0.61, p < 0.05). Regarding activity status, NY showed higher specificities and accuracies. In conclusion, NY and ICDAS-II criteria are comparable and present good reproducibility and validity to detect caries lesions and estimate their severities, but the LAA seems to overestimate the caries activity assessment of cavitated lesions compared to NY.

Sealing Distal Proximal Caries Lesions in First Primary Molars: Efficacy after 2.5 Years

Background: The prevalence of proximal caries in primary molar teeth is high in many countries. Aims: (1) To study by means of a split-mouth design the 1- and 2.5-year efficacy of sealing proximal lesions vs. flossing instructions (control) on primary molar teeth. (2) To assess children’s behaviour and pain perception during the procedure. Methods: Ninety-one 4- to 6-year-old children from Bogotá, Colombia participated. Participants had to have at least two proximal lesions scored according to the following radiographic classification system: radiolucency (1) in enamel outer half, (2) restricted to enamel-dentine junction, or (3) restricted to dentine outer third. Baseline, 1- and 2.5-year follow-up bitewing radiographs were taken. Test and control lesions were randomly selected. After temporary separation test lesions were sealed (adhesive). Parents/caregivers received a flossing leaflet for their children. Progression of the lesions was assessed by means of independent reading of conventional bitewing radiographs. Results: One-year (n = 73) test vs. control lesion progression was 27.4 vs. 50.7%, respectively (p < 0.01, McNemar’s test), and 2.5-year (n = 56) test vs. control lesion progression was 46.4 vs. 71.4%, respectively (p < 0.01). The dropouts did not differ from those who remained in the study regarding relevant caries baseline data. More than 88% of the participants presented positive to definitively positive behaviour and very low or low pain intensity at both first and second appointments. Conclusion: The sealing technique was superior to flossing instructions both after 1 and 2.5 years of follow-up and the majority of the participants had no anxiety or pain during the treatment.

The Reliability and Accuracy of Two Methods for Proximal Caries Detection and Depth on Directly Visible Proximal Surfaces: An in vitro Study

This study aimed to determine the reliability and accuracy of the ICDAS and radiographs in detecting and estimating the depth of proximal lesions on extracted teeth. The lesions were visible to the naked eye. Three trained examiners scored a total of 132 sound/carious proximal surfaces from 106 primary teeth and 160 sound/carious proximal surfaces from 140 permanent teeth. The selected surfaces were first scored visually, using the 7 classes in the ICDAS. They were then assessed on radiographs using a 5-point classification system. Reexaminations were conducted with both scoring systems. Teeth were then sectioned and the selected surfaces histologically classified using a stereomicroscope (×5). Intrareproducibility values (weighted kappa statistics) for the ICDAS for both primary and permanent teeth were >0.9, and for the radiographs between 0.6 and 0.8. Interreproducibility values for the ICDAS were >0.85, for the radiographs >0.6. For both primary and permanent teeth, the accuracy of each examiner (Spearman’s correlation coefficient) for the ICDAS was ≧0.85, and for the radiographs ≧0.45. Corresponding data were achieved when using pooled data from the 3 examiners for both the ICDAS and the radiographs. The associations between the 2 detection methods were measured to be moderate. In particular, the ICDAS was accurate in predicting lesion depth (histologically) confined to the enamel/outer third of the dentine versus deeper lesions. This study shows that when proximal lesions are open for inspection, the ICDAS is a more reliable and accurate method than the radiograph for detecting and estimating the depth of the lesion in both primary and permanent teeth.