Divergence between diagnostic healthy, biological sealing and occlusal caries in enamel or enamel and dentin, carried out by academics and dental professionals

Abstract

This study proposed to analyze the difference and compare the diagnostic methods and clinical diagnosis associated with radiographic caries on the occlusal surfaces of 15 human posterior teeth,   performed   by   07   dentists   and   14   dental   students.   The   teeth   were   mounted   in   wax   blocks, radiographed in a standardized manner and underwent clinical and radiographic evaluation of the occlusal  surface,  affirming  or  rejecting  the  presence  of  caries  and  its  extension.  Subsequently  the teeth were bisected in the mesiodistal direction, and then analyzed to validate the macroscopic optical caries  and  its  extension  when  present.  The  data  analysis  by  test  student-­Neuwman-­Keuls  showed no statistical difference between the methods used when radiographic examination contributed little to the detection of occlusal caries. The hit rate for both professionals and for academics was higher in the clinical examination and radiographic diagnoses of divergence were reasonable.