| |
The call for individual or even localised measures of caries activity is growing. In a caries clinical trial using light-induced fluorescence (QLF; Inspektor Research BV, Amsterdam), some patients showed red autofluorescence of plaque, and it was hypothesised that this indicated caries-active biofilms. This study aimed to investigate whether plaque autofluorescence could be used as an indicator of caries activity as determined by two clinical parameters. 38 first-year dental students were enrolled in the study as a part of their regular dental exam. Caries activity was recorded as CA1: clinical caries risk assessment by a very experienced clinician, and CA2: DMFT increase in the past 2 years as reported by the students. QLF images were taken of the buccal surfaces of the 27 and 37 and the oral surfaces of the 17 and 47. To confirm that red fluorescing areas were indeed plaque QLF, images of the same surfaces were taken after disclosing the plaque using D & C Red #28, 1.5% (Butler). Complete records were obtained from 29 students. CA1 gave a positive score for 9 students, CA2 for 15 students. 8 students were judged cariesactive by both methods. Red autofluorescence was observed in 17 students. In 11 students there was an overlap with either CA1 or CA2. That would lead to the following sensitivity and specificity values of red fluorescence if the CA results are used as 'gold' standard: sensitivity 0.67, specificity 0.55 (CA1); sensitivity 0.67, specificity 0.50 (CA2); sensitivity 0.65, specificity 0.50 (CA1 + CA2). It is concluded that plaque autofluorescence could not be shown to predict clinical risk assessment or reported recent caries experience very well. |