NEAR-INFRARED TRANSILLUMINATION COMPARED TO DIGITAL BITEWING RADIOGRAPHY FOR PROXIMAL CARIES DETECTION

Proximal caries is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Aim: to study the diagnostic accuracy of near-infrared transillumination (DIAGNOcam, KaVo) compared to digital bitewing radiography for initial proximal caries diagnosis. Materials and methods: 1600 proximal surfaces of premolars and molars of 50 patients were examined with DIAGNOcam and digital bitewing radiography, and the level of agreement between them was established. Results: for the diagnosis of proximal caries in dentin, a complete (100%) coincidence of the findings with the type of tooth and type of surface was established. For the diagnosis of proximal caries in enamel, a high level of agreement between the two methods was found, as transillumination with near-infrared light is more sensitive than digital bitewing radiography. Conclusion: DIAGNOcam is a promising screening device in clinical practice for early proximal caries detection.