Comparative in vitro validation of VistaProof and DIAGNOdent Pen for occlusal caries detection in permanent teeth

Purpose: Current caries diagnostic tools are neither very accurate nor very reliable for the detection of carious lesions of different depths. Thus, the development of new devices and techniques is needed. The aim of this in vitro study was to validate a newer fluorescence device, VistaProof (VP), and compare it with DIAGNOdent Pen (DP), direct visual (DV) and indirect visual methods (IDV), with respect to accuracy and reliability for the detection of occlusal caries in permanent teeth. Methods: and Materials: One hundred seven sites on 41 occlusal surfaces of recently extracted premolars were selected and classified into lesion categories according to Ekstrand's clinical criteria, by direct and indirect visual examination. The fluorescence of the sites was also measured by the two devices, and the teeth were ground through the sites for histological evaluation of their lesion depth. One calibrated examiner of high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]0.05). Conclusion: The validity of both fluorescence devices were not found to be significantly different and not better than visual methods for the detection of noncavitated carious lesions. © 2012 Operative Dentistry, Inc.