Abstract
Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of caries detection using the new DIAGNOcam (KaVo Dental, Lake Zurich) as compared to conventional methods (clinical and X-ray examination). Materials and Methods: A study was conducted on 57 adolescents and adults with a permanent keramus (a total of 1230 teeth).
Outcomes from conventional methods of caries diagnosis were compared with DIAGNOcam pictures and statistically evaluated for tooth surface. The presence of tooth decay has not been validated.
The caries detection rate of these three methods was compared to the same scan area. Results: DIAGNOcam was able to detect caries lesions significantly higher than the other two methods, but only assuming the tooth was not filled.
In the presence of the fill, the X-ray examination gave slightly better results, but only with approximate lesions. Conclusion: DIAGNOcam has overcome conventional caries detection methods when not filling the tooth, as well as detecting initial lesions.
The method, however, was not able to detect caries lesions under the fillings unless they were extensive. In these cases, bitewing images are still irreplaceable.
The clinical relevance of this study is limited due to the impossibility of caries validation against the gold standard.