Ashley P F, Blinkhorn A S, Davies R M
J Dent. 1998 Mar;26(2):83-8. doi: 10.1016/s0300-5712(97)00007-9.
The aim of this in vitro study was to validate the use of the Electronic Caries Monitor (ECM) for the detection of enamel and dentinal caries on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth, and to compare it with visual examination, fibre-optic transillumination, conventional and digital bitewing radiography.
One-hundred and three extracted posterior permanent teeth with no apparent occlusal cavitation were selected and examined using each system. Thirty teeth were re-examined with each system to assess repeatability. Each tooth was then serially sectioned and examined histologically for occlusal caries.
The occlusal surfaces of 25 teeth had caries in enamel and 37 had dentinal carious lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of the ECM were 0.78 and 0.80 for the diagnosis of occlusal dentinal lesions (cut-off = 0.391) and 0.65 and 0.73 for enamel lesions (cut-off = 0.501). The weighted kappa value for repeatability of the ECM was 0.68. Of the other diagnostic systems, visual examination provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity, 0.24 and 0.97 for dentinal caries and 0.60 and 0.73 for enamel caries, respectively.
The ECM was the most accurate diagnostic tool for the in vitro diagnosis of early, non-cavitated occlusal lesions on posterior teeth.
本体外研究的目的是验证电子龋病监测仪（ECM）用于检测后牙咬合面釉质龋和牙本质龋的有效性，并将其与视觉检查、光纤透照、传统和数字咬合翼片X线摄影进行比较。
选择103颗无明显咬合面龋洞的拔除后牙恒牙，使用每种系统进行检查。对30颗牙齿使用每种系统进行重新检查以评估重复性。然后将每颗牙齿进行连续切片，并进行组织学检查以确定咬合面龋。
25颗牙齿的咬合面有釉质龋，37颗有牙本质龋损。ECM诊断咬合面牙本质病变的敏感性和特异性分别为0.78和0.80（临界值 = 0.391），诊断釉质病变的敏感性和特异性分别为0.65和0.73（临界值 = 0.501）。ECM重复性的加权kappa值为0.68。在其他诊断系统中，视觉检查提供了最佳的敏感性和特异性组合，牙本质龋的敏感性和特异性分别为０.２４和０.９７，釉质龋的敏感性和特异性分别为０.６０和０.７３。
ECM是体外诊断后牙早期、非龋洞性咬合面病变最准确的诊断工具。
