An observational study in Caries, sponsored by Malmö University. Completed at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 8 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-04-20.
Sponsored by Malmö University · Observational
BACKGROUND: To diagnose caries in clinical practice today, a combination of clinical examination with mirror and probe, and in sometimes x-ray images are used. For surfaces in contact with other teeth X-rays (preferably bitewing) are often required. Even though the radiation doses in bitewings are small, it is important to weigh risks against the benefit to avoid unnecessary radiation.
There are other methods for diagnosing caries based on different forms of laser light. One such technique is based on the translucency of the teeth. The light is within the near infrared light (NIR) area. A product named DAIGNOcam (diagnostic camera) is using this technology. The light is led in a hand piece held against the tooth. The tooth is illuminated and the caries lesions can be seen like dark spots on a computer monitor screen. The technique is mainly used in adult patients and permanent teeth. However, there is no complete evaluation of how well the technology diagnoses caries in milk teeth. From a radiation hygiene point of view, it is particularly important to reduce the amount of X-rays to young individuals. X-rays are often experienced as difficult by younger children, which leads to poorer diagnostics. It is important to identify early caries in milk teeth as these teeth have thinner enamel and a more "porous" dentin. This may lead to that caries progress much faster thus more difficult to fix. This in turn leads to a risk of toothache and that the damage becomes so extensive that the tooth must be removed.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic accuracy / precision in caries diagnosis between teeth using DIAGNOcam in milk teeth comparable to caries diagnostics using bitewing x-rays.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
The children will also be able to rate their experience of the X-ray examination and the DIAGNOcam survey using a Faces pain scale to see if there is any difference in experience between the different methods of investigation.
BACKGROUND: Caries is a multifactorial and infectious disease. To diagnose caries in clinical practice, a combination of clinical examination with mirror and probe (visual-tactile examination) is used today, as well as in some cases standardized x-rays called bitewing x-ray (bw). Visual-tactile examination is enough to diagnose caries on buccal and lingual/palate surfaces. However, for approximal surfaces, X-rays are often required to ensure diagnosis and to assess the spread of a caries lesion in the tooth. Bitewing X-rays are the single best diagnostic tools for diagnosing caries in approximal surfaces. An X-ray examination should always be performed on individual indications. At bw the radiation doses are small. Nevertheless, it is important to weigh risks against the benefit to avoid unnecessary radiation. Reducing the number of dental radiographs is also important from the perspective of safe dental care where one strives to make use of and not harm.
There are other methods for diagnosing caries based on different forms of laser light that can detect caries. Previously, these techniques have only been used for occlusal surfaces and buccal/lingual/palate tooth surfaces, not for diagnostics between teeth. For some time now, the translucency of the teeth is used in a technique. The light is within the so-called NIR area - near infrared light (non-wavelength wavelength). On the market, a product (DAIGNOcam) uses this technology. The light is led in a hand piece (like a little bigger pen) held against the tooth, one tooth at a time. The tooth is illuminated and a digital video camera on the hand piece projects a computer monitor image. In the picture, the caries lesions are seen like dark spots. These correspond to a qualitative defect in the enamel or dentin, i.e. an area where various minerals were lost / dissolved due to caries (demineralized area). The image can be saved in the patient's dental record in the same way as regular photos or X-rays. DIAGNOcam provides a qualitative response - one looks primarily if it is caries or not. It will then be a supplement to the usual survey with mirror and probe. The technique is mainly used in adult patients and permanent teeth. DIAGNOcam is currently available in clinical practice since a number of years. However, there is no complete evaluation of how well the technology diagnoses caries in primary teeth. This is unfortunate for mainly two reasons: from a radiation hygiene point of view, it is especially important to reduce the amount of X-rays to young individuals; Intra-oral X-rays are often experienced as difficult to manage by younger children, which leads to poorer diagnostics. It is important to identify early caries lesions in primary teeth as these teeth have a thinner enamel and a less mineralized dentin, which causes a caries lesion to progress much faster. This may lead to difficulties in restoring the teeth as well as pain from pulpal involvement. If the carious lesion is extensive, this may lead to tooth extraction.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic accuracy / precision in caries diagnostics using DIAGNOcam in primary teeth comparable to caries diagnostics using bitewing x-rays.
PRIMARY RESEARCH QUESTION:
SECONDARY RESEARCH QUESTION:
The children will also be able to rate their experience of the X-ray examination and the DIAGNOcam survey using a Faces pain scale to see if there is any difference in experience between the different methods of investigation.
KNOWLEDGE GAINS: New methods should always be evaluated before implementation to ensure good care. There are no evaluated diagnostic methods that do not use ionised radiation (X-ray) for caries diagnosing of approximal surfaces in contact with another tooth. If DIAGNOcam in evaluation shows the same diagnostic accuracy as X-ray, this may reduce the use of dental x-ray for children. If DIAGNOcam is found to have poorer diagnostic accuracy, the method should be avoided as a caries diagnostic method in primary teeth. The latter is based on the fact that children should not be exposed to unnecessary examinations or interventions that do not result in health benefits.
Malmö University is the lead sponsor of 42 studies on the registry; 16 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
50 patients who meet the inclusion criteria are recruited consecutively at the dep of pediatric dentistry, Faculty of Odontology in Malmö. In order to obtain a spread in caries, there are no restraints regarding dental health in the children. It is important to include both children with a lot of caries and children with little or even no caries.
No power calculation can be performed as there is no basis for obtaining the size of the study population. However, there are similar studies on other diagnostic methods in which diagnostic reliability was investigated with a study material of 50 patients. Therefore, the study intends to include 50 patients resulting in at least 400 surfaces.
Exclusion Criteria:
number of surfaces with manifest approximal caries lesions
approximal caries in primary molars registered in radiographs (bitewings) or with DIAGNOcam. Caries lesions clearly visible in dentin.
Time frame: measured at the dental examination
Children´s perception of pain during examination with radiographs (bitewings) and DIAGNOcam.
Child assessment of pain using Facial Pain Scale
Time frame: measured at the dental examination
Plan to share: No
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This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Malmö University