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Visible changes in tooth fluorescence have been used to detect early caries. This study investigated the ability of a visible fluorescence (VF) method to detect residual caries. The teeth are excited with blue light and observed through a yellow filter. Different zones within the carious lesion can be distinguished by differences in brightness and color. The hypotheses were: (1) if residual caries is present, it is detectable using VF; (2) if no residual caries is detectable using VF, the sample is caries free. 40 human teeth with D2-D3 caries were selected. Gross caries was removed by grinding the lesions perpendicularly, until only minimal residual caries was detectable using VF. Teeth were randomly divided into two groups. In one group (n = 20) samples were ground further until no residual caries was detectable using VF. The other group (n = 20) was not treated further. Ablinded examiner checked all samples (n = 40) for residual caries using DIAGNOdent (KaVo, Germany), a visual tactile examination and a dye (Caries Detector; Kuraray, Japan). Presence or absence of residual caries was detected using polarized light microscopy as a gold standard. VF had the greatest sensitivity (100%), specificity (91%), percent correct (95%) and predictive values of any of the methods tested. VF had significantly higher percent correct (95%) than DIAGNOdent (85%) and caries detector dye (50%). Both of the stated hypotheses were proven: when residual caries is present, it is detectable using VF (100% sensitivity); when no caries is detectable using VF, the samples are caries free (100% negative predictive value). It can be concluded that VF is an improvement on the currently available aids for residual caries detection. |