ELECTRON MICROSCOPY VALIDATION OF ICDAS CODES 5 AND 6 FOR PROXIMAL CARIES

Abstract

Aim of the study The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibilities of electron microscopy validation of the visual ICDAS codes 5 and 6 for proximal surfaces using a ROC statistical analysis. Material and methods 110 proximal surfaces of anterior and posterior extracted teeth were visually inspected by 6 observers. 65 caries were classified as ICDAS code 5 and 45 cases were classified as ICDAS code 6. These surfaces were photographed, the teeth were sectioned and the fragments of interest were analyzed at the scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The SEM images were used as validation tools for the initial diagnostic ICDAS code. Results The results of the six observers were used in the statistical analysis for evaluating the diagnostic performance for each code. The mean value of the diagnostic performance A(z) was 0,766 for the code 5 caries and 0,850 for the code 6 caries (p>0,05). Conclusions The electron microscopy validation was efficient and the diagnostic performance proved that code 6 was identified easier than code 5.

Keywords

• SEM validation
• ICDAS codes
• restorative dentistry