Abstract
Objectives This clinical study aimed to evaluate the validity of using DIAGNOdent in diagnosing root caries, and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of different cut-off DIAGNOdent values in assessing root caries with reference to visual-tactile criteria. Methods Exposed root surfaces were assessed by one examiner for root caries on 266 subjects using visual-tactile criteria and DIAGNOdent 2095 after dental scaling. Associations between DIAGNOdent values and visual-tactile diagnosis of root caries were determined. The cut-off level for statistical significance was 0.05. The sensitivity and specificity of DIAGNOdent with difference cut-off points were analysed compared to visual-tactile diagnosis of root caries. Results There was significant difference between DIAGNOdent values obtained from sound and carious root surfaces ( p < 0.001). On carious surfaces, active root caries obtained significantly higher DIAGNOdent values than inactive root caries ( p < 0.001). With increasing cut-off point DIAGNOdent values from 5 to 35, sensitivity decreased from 91.4% to 16.2% and specificity increased from 64.4% to 98.2%. A cut-off point of DIAGNOdent value between 5 and 10 produced the highest combined sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions There was a significant difference in DIAGNOdent values between sound and carious root surfaces diagnosed by visual-tactile criteria supporting the validity of DIAGNOdent for assessing root caries. A DIAGNOdent value between 5 and 10 produced the highest combined sensitivity and specificity when visual-tactile assessment of root caries was regarded as the criterion. These findings have implications in using and explaining DIAGNOdent values in assessing root caries.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.