ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of employing clinical visual examination at the D(1) (enamel and dentine caries) diagnostic threshold, fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI), elective temporary tooth separation (ETTS) and electronic caries measurement (ECM) in the environment of an epidemiological study or clinical trial. It also aimed to compare the diagnostic yield of these diagnostic aides and methods. The sample consisted of 182 Latvian children, mean age 13.3 years (range = 10.6-15.7). For 12-year-old subjects the mean D(3)MFS was 10.58 (SD 6.05) and the mean D(1)MFS was 19.97 (SD 10.47). The additional diagnostic yield from FOTI examination of approximal sites was 40.0% at the D(1) threshold. The additional apparent yield for ETTS was 52.8% at the D(1) threshold. ETTS detected 38.3% more carious surfaces than FOTI at the D(1) threshold. Conversely 57 surfaces thought to be carious on FOTI examination were judged sound following ETTS. Although the ECM appeared practical to use, it broke early in the trial and the results obtained prior to breakdown appeared inaccurate. In conclusion, all diagnostic methods were feasible under the conditions of an epidemiological study or clinical trial.
