Miika Hyvönen1, Arttu Jaakkola1, Tarja Tanner1,2, Jari Päkkilä3, Antti Kämppi4, Pertti Patinen5, Leo Tjäderhane1,3,6, Annina Sipola7,8, Sisko Huumonen9, Vuokko Anttonen1,2. 1. Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 2. Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 5. Centre for Military Medicine, Finnish Defense Forces, Riihimäki, Finland. 6. HUS, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 7. Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 8. Department of Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 9. Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Bitewing radiographs are mainly used to confirm clinical findings in caries diagnostics. The objective here was to investigate the quality of bitewing radiographs after short brush-up training and additional findings besides caries in a low-caries population. METHODS: The material of this cross-sectional study comprised 377 pairs of bitewing radiographs of 19- to 20-year-olds taken by dentists. Radiography was considered indicated if one dentinal caries lesion was present on clinical examination. A senior oral radiologist evaluated quality and diagnosed the findings afterwards unaware of clinical status. The association between variables was analysed using cross tabulation and chi-squared testing. RESULTS: Almost half of the images were of compromised quality (44.1%). Dentinal caries lesions were detected in 82.3% and enamel lesions in 73.5% of the subjects. On average, the subjects had 1.7 (SD 0.52) dentinal lesions. Fillings were found in 81.8%, fractures/cracks in 11.7%, and attrition in 7.4% of the subjects. Signs of excessive bite force were recorded in 19.4%, whereas marginal bone loss was detected in 6.4%. No significant correlation was detected between fractures, attrition, and excessive bite forces. CONCLUSIONS: Effort must be taken to ensure high quality of bitewing radiographs. In addition to caries detection, bitewing radiographs offer additional value, such as detecting excessive bite forces, tooth wear, and marginal bone loss among young adults.
OBJECTIVES: Bitewing radiographs are mainly used to confirm clinical findings in caries diagnostics. The objective here was to investigate the quality of bitewing radiographs after short brush-up training and additional findings besides caries in a low-caries population. METHODS: The material of this cross-sectional study comprised 377 pairs of bitewing radiographs of 19- to 20-year-olds taken by dentists. Radiography was considered indicated if one dentinal caries lesion was present on clinical examination. A senior oral radiologist evaluated quality and diagnosed the findings afterwards unaware of clinical status. The association between variables was analysed using cross tabulation and chi-squared testing. RESULTS: Almost half of the images were of compromised quality (44.1%). Dentinal caries lesions were detected in 82.3% and enamel lesions in 73.5% of the subjects. On average, the subjects had 1.7 (SD 0.52) dentinal lesions. Fillings were found in 81.8%, fractures/cracks in 11.7%, and attrition in 7.4% of the subjects. Signs of excessive bite force were recorded in 19.4%, whereas marginal bone loss was detected in 6.4%. No significant correlation was detected between fractures, attrition, and excessive bite forces. CONCLUSIONS: Effort must be taken to ensure high quality of bitewing radiographs. In addition to caries detection, bitewing radiographs offer additional value, such as detecting excessive bite forces, tooth wear, and marginal bone loss among young adults.