A follow-up study of the use of DIAGNOdent for monitoring fissure caries in children

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the laser fluorescence device DIAGNOdent for monitoring occlusal caries longitudinally as part of a routine dental check-up in a public dental clinic.

Methods: Children aged 7-8 and 13-14 years at baseline participated in the study. As part of two consecutive dental check-ups with a mean interval of 1,19, years, 423 permanent molars and 315 primary molars in 81 children were examined visually and using DIAGNOdent by one dentist. In teeth where, as judged by visual examination, caries had emerged or progressed during the follow-up, the DIAGNOdent values had increased significantly from the baseline.

Results: In permanent teeth with a change in visual score from sound to enamel or dentin caries, the mean DIAGNOdent value increased from 24 to 37 and in primary teeth from 8 to 40. The increase in DIANGOdent values correlated positively with the increase in visual score. The mean DIAGNOdent value at baseline was significantly higher in teeth that became carious than in those that remained sound during the follow-up. For permanent teeth with a visual reversal from inactive or active enamel caries to a sound surface, the mean DIAGNOdent value decreased from 36 to 24.

Conclusions: These results suggest that DIAGNOdent is useful in monitoring occlusal caries in both permanent and primary molars.