AN EVALUATION OF THE DIAGNOSTIC YIELD FROM BITEWING RADIOGRAPHS OF SMALL APPROXIMAL AND OCCLUSAL CARIOUS LESIONS IN A LOW-PREVALENCE SAMPLEIN-VITRO USING DIFFERENT FILM TYPES AND SPEEDS
Dnj. Ricketts et al., AN EVALUATION OF THE DIAGNOSTIC YIELD FROM BITEWING RADIOGRAPHS OF SMALL APPROXIMAL AND OCCLUSAL CARIOUS LESIONS IN A LOW-PREVALENCE SAMPLEIN-VITRO USING DIFFERENT FILM TYPES AND SPEEDS, British Dental Journal, 182(2), 1997, pp. 51-58
Aim To compare diagnostic yield in caries diagnosis from D- and E-spee
d films.Design A laboratory study. Setting A UK dental school between
1992 and 1994. Materials and methods 96 extracted teeth containing app
roximal and occlusal lesions, but representing a low caries prevalence
sample, were set in occluding dental arches. Bitewing radiographs wer
e taken and interpreted by 5 examiners for the presence or absence of
caries. Each examiner was also asked which film image he or she subjec
tively liked best. Main outcome measures The teeth were subsequently s
ectioned and histologically examined to validate diagnostic decisions.
Results For all film types the percentage of lesions with caries hist
ologically in dentine correctly identified radiologically (sensitivity
) was low (approximal caries 8-22%; occlusal caries 0-30%). The number
of sound dentine sites correctly identified (specificity) was high (a
pproximal caries 98-100%; occlusal caries 79-100%). There were no sign
ificant differences between D- and E-speed films. Sensitivity was unaf
fected by each examiner's subjective preference for a particular film.
The variation in sensitivity of diagnosis was due to differences betw
een examiners. Conclusions The reluctance of many GDPs to use E-speed
film because they 'do not like the image' cannot be endorsed or suppor
ted. Both E-speed film types examined can be recommended for use in ge
neral practice.