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Discriminatory ability of caries diagnosis from bitewing radiographs in caries prophylactic trials
Author(s) -
Howat Alison P.,
Brandt R. S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1980.tb01283.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiological weapon , dentistry , radiography , clinical trial , randomized controlled trial , orthodontics , surgery
The discriminatory ability of radiological criteria in common use in clinical trials was tested on 99 female teenagers selected from a larger sample taking part in a 3–year caries prophylactic clinical trial. Four radiological caries diagnostic criteria were selected as generally representative of those in current use following a comprehensive review of the literature. A significant preventive effect was evident from the radiographic examinations after 3 years. At this time a significant difference between mean DFS increments was recorded when enamel lesions were omitted (P < 0.05). Although preventive treatment effects were evident at all diagnostic levels, the discriminatory abilities differed. The criterion “involvement of amelodentinal junction but not beyond” was most discriminatory.