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Review
. 2021 Mar 6;9(3):30.
doi: 10.3390/dj9030030.

Diagnostic Value of Fluorescence Methods, Visual Inspection and Photographic Visual Examination in Initial Caries Lesion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mai Thi Giang Thanh  1   2 , Ngo Van Toan  3   4 , Do Thi Thanh Toan  3 , Nguyen Phu Thang  2 , Ngoc Quang Dong  5   6 , Nguyen Tien Dung  2 , Phung Thi Thu Hang  2 , Le Quynh Anh  2   7 , Nguyen Thu Tra  2 , Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc  2
Affiliations
Review

Diagnostic Value of Fluorescence Methods, Visual Inspection and Photographic Visual Examination in Initial Caries Lesion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mai Thi Giang Thanh et al. Dent J (Basel). .

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy of fluorescence-based methods, visual inspections, and photographic visual examinations in initial caries detection. A literature search was undertaken in the PubMed and Cochrane databases. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and eligible articles published from 1 January 2009 to 30 October 2019 were included if they met the following criteria: they (1) assessed the accuracy of methods of detecting initial tooth caries lesions on occlusal, proximal, or smooth surfaces in both primary and permanent teeth (in clinical); (2) used a reference standard; (3) reported data regarding the sample size, prevalence of initial tooth caries, and accuracy of the methods. Data collection and extraction, quality assessment, and data analysis were conducted according to Cochrane standards Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 14.0. A total of 12 eligible articles were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence-based methods were 80% and 80%, respectively; visual inspection was measured at 80% and 75%, respectively; photographic visual examination was measured at 67% and 79%, respectively. We found that the visual method and the fluorescence method were reliable for laboratory use to detect early-stage caries with equivalent accuracy.

Keywords: fluorescence; initial tooth caries; photographic visual examination; visual inspection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Visual inspection.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Photographic visual examination.
Figure A3
Figure A3
Fluorescence-based methods.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
sRoc curves of visual inspection.
Figure 3
Figure 3
sRoc curves of fluorescence-based methods.
Figure 4
Figure 4
sRoc curves of photographic visual examination.
Figure 5
Figure 5
sRoc curves of visual inspection on occlusal surfaces.
Figure 6
Figure 6
sRoc curves of fluorescence-based methods on occlusal surfaces.
Figure 7
Figure 7
sRoc curves of photographic visual examination on occlusal surfaces.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Comparison between in vitro and in vivo of fluorescence methods.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Comparison between in vitro and in vivo of visual photographic examination methods.
Figure 10
Figure 10
In vitro comparison of fluorescence and visual inspection.
Figure 11
Figure 11
In vitro comparison of photographic visual examination and fluorescence.
Figure 12
Figure 12
In vitro comparison of visual inspection and photographic visual examination.
Figure 13
Figure 13
In vivo comparison of fluorescence and image methods.
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