Comparison of cone beam CT and digital intraoral radiography performance in the detection of artificially induced recurrent caries-like lesions

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2017
• Main Authors: Sousa Melo, Saulo Leonardo, DDS, MSD, PhD, MS, Furtado Belem, Manuella Dias, DDS, MS, PhD, Prieto, Lucia Trazzi, DDS, MS, PhD, Machado Tabchoury, Cinthia Pereira, BSChem, MS, PhD, Haiter-Neto, Francisco, DDS, MS, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Surgery
• ISSN: 2212-4403
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2017.05.469

Abstract Objectives To compare the performance of CBCT images and digital radiography in the detection of artificial recurrent caries-like lesions under amalgam and composite fillings. Study Design Class II cavities in 30 molars were filled with amalgam. Fifteen of those molars had the restoration/enamel interface artificially demineralized. Phantoms were prepared. CBCT images were acquired with two units in three voxel sizes (K9000, 0.076 mm; i-CAT, 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm). Intraoral radiographs were obtained with three systems (Digora, VistaScan and RVG-6100). After that, the amalgam fillings were replaced by composite and new images were obtained. Three examiners assessed all images. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and ROC curve were calculated and verified through ANOVA and Tukey test. Results There were no significant differences in sensitivity and specificity when the same restorative material was present or when the restorative materials were compared with the imaging technique as a constant. As for accuracy and ROC curve, there were statistically significant differences when the two materials were compared, and in the amalgam group when the different imaging modalities were compared. Conclusion CBCT performed similarly to intraoral radiography in detecting demineralization under restorations. However, the voxel size and the type of restorative material influenced its performance.