ELECTRICAL METHODS IN OCCLUSAL CARIES DIAGNOSIS - AN IN-VITRO COMPARISON WITH VISUAL INSPECTION AND BITE-WING RADIOGRAPHY

The aim of this study was to compare in vitro diagnostic performance o f three electrical methods for occlusal caries diagnosis with that of visual inspection and bite-wing radiography. One hundred and seven ext racted molar and premolar teeth were subjected to the diagnostic metho ds by 2 operators and subsequently sectioned for histological validati on. Electrical measurements were made at site level and at surface lev el using two different instruments. The diagnostic parameters calculat ed from the results were: sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accurac y at a theoretical caries prevalence of 10% and area under the ROC cur ve. The electrical methods and bite-wing radiography showed higher sen sitivity and lower specificity than visual inspection. Diagnostic accu racy was significantly lower for bite-wing radiography and one electri cal method than for visual inspection. Overall diagnostic performance of two electrical methods was superior.