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Reproducibility of subtraction radiography in monitoring changes in approximal carious lesions in children: An in vivo study
Author(s) -
AlSane Mona,
Ricketts David N.,
Mendes Fausto M.,
Altarakemah Yacoub,
Deery Christopher,
Innes Nicola,
Rollings Sam
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12638
Subject(s) - reproducibility , medicine , radiography , subtraction , dentistry , kappa , nuclear medicine , orthodontics , radiology , mathematics , statistics , geometry , arithmetic
Background Laboratory studies have shown that digital subtraction radiography (DSR) can be a more effective tool, than conventional radiography, in monitoring changes in carious lesions. The clinical performance of the technique, however, has not been sufficiently researched. Aim To compare the reproducibility of DSR to that of bitewing radiographs, in monitoring changes in approximal caries in the mixed dentition. A secondary aim was to determine whether assessment outcomes differed as a function of the method used. Design Six assessors evaluated 310 lesions first on bitewings, then with DSR. The overall reproducibility was evaluated via intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC). Intra‐ and inter‐rater reproducibility were assessed using weighted Kappa. Paired t test was used to assess differences in the reproducibility across methods. Results The overall reproducibility for DSR was (ICC = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.31‐0.56). Intra‐ and inter‐rater reproducibility were 0.65 and 0.44, respectively. The overall reproducibility for bitewings was ICC = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.42‐0.57. Intra‐ and Inter‐rater reproducibility were 0.71 and 0.46, respectively. Differences in the reproducibility across methods were not statistically significant. Significantly more lesions were scored as progressed using DSR. Conclusions The reproducibility of DSR in monitoring changes in approximal caries is comparable to that of bitewings. Additionally, DSR detected higher proportion of progression than bitewing assessments.