#7a Caries Diagnosis and Management Flashcards
T or F, Caries is continuum based.
True, Goes from incipient to advanced
What is the most common current method to detect caries?
- Checking for Explorer “stick” - feeling for soft areas in enamel.
- PROBLEM = use of explorer can produce irreversible damage to demineralized areas in occlusal fissures. This can prevent the repair of lesions.
What are alternative methods to detect caries?
- Visual and mental exploration with probe
- sharp probe, light touch across surface
- Clean and dry tooth
- good light
- Magnification
- Bitewing radiographs
What should you look for when looking for caries?
- Frank Cavitation
- Decalcification (white spot lesion use air to dry off)
- Opalescence (deep caries)
- Black or brown staining not reliable indicator of carries!
Caries rates are ______.
Declining *mostly declining in smooth surface caries
_____ are the most predominate caries.
fissure
______ is the degree to which a measurement expresses the true value
Validity
_____ relates to the reproductabilty of measurements
Reliability
What is the most valid method of caries diagnosis?
A histological exam, but it cannot be done in the mouth!
What is sensitivity?
The proportion of people/teeth with cares who have a positive test result. “How likely we are to say a disease is present when it truly is there.” 100% would = no false negatives.
What is specificity?
The proportion of healthy people who have a negative test result. How likely we are to say disease is absent when it is NOT there. *perfect specificity = 100& = no false positives
We want high sensitivity and specificity!
OK!
What is the scale for reliability (Kappa)?
1 = perfect agreement >.75 = excellent >.4 = good
Are we over diagnosing caries, using traditional methods?
No, it would appear we are still under diagnosing them.
How does the KaVO DIAGNOdent laser work?
Detects fluorescence from demineralized enamel. HIGH SENSITIVITY WILL PICK UP VERY SMALL LESIONS (a little too sensitive) *penetrates 2-3mmm
