Abstract

SILVA, Rubenice Amaral da; ORTIZ, Tânia Mara Lopes; CRUZ, Maria Carmen Fontoura Nogueira da  and  GONCALVES, Letícia Machado. Concordance between clinical and radiographic diagnosis for approximal caries in primary molars and first permanent molars. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.12, n.3, pp. 223-226. ISSN 1677-3888.

This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic diagnosis for approximal caries in primary molars and first permanent molars. Two hundred children from 3 to 11 years old assisted by University Of Maranhão School Of Dentistry, were selected. All children should present the posterior teeth with intact marginal ridges, regardless of the status of proximal surfaces. Clinical examination was performed by an examiner using dental floss and dental explorer. The "bite-wing" technique was used in the radiographic examination, and radiographic analysis was performed by an examiner using a light box and a magnifying glass. The clinical and radiographic characteristics were evaluated according to standardized criteria. Data were analyzed by McNemar test with a significance level of 5%. The radiographic examination identified a higher number of proximal caries in enamel (p<0.0001) and dentin (p<0.05) compared to the clinical examination. Regarding the concordance between clinical and radiographic diagnosis, the radiographic examination was more effective in the diagnosis of proximal caries (p=0.0001). It was concluded that radiographic examination detected a higher number of proximal carious lesions in relation to clinical diagnosis, being considered as an important complement for diagnose this type of lesion.

Keywords : Dental caries; Bitewing radiography; Deciduous teeth..