• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.236-246
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• 2004

Artificial carious lesions in various depths were observed with visual examination using light transillumination, bite-wing radiography, laser fluorescence, and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence to determine the reproducibility, correlation of each diagnostic method, diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity. And optical densities according to demineralized times were measured whether laser fluorescence could be used as a quantitative diagnostic method. The following results were obtained whether laser fluorescence could be used for diagnosis of initial proximal caries. 1. Tau-c values of visual examination was 0.08 which showed lowest reproducibility and those of bite-wing radiography, laser fluorescence, dye-enhanced laser fluorescence were 0.60, 0.48, and 0.64, respectively which showed relatively high reproducibility. 2. The correlation between demineralization time and each examination was the highest in dye-enhanced laser fluorescence$({\gamma}=0.51)$ followed by laser fluorescence$({\gamma}=0.43)$, bite-wing radiograph$({\gamma}=0.35)$, and visual examination$({\gamma}=0.33)$. Dye-enhanced laser fluorescence and laser fluorescence showed significant correlation with demineralization time. 3. The sensitivity of laser fluorescence and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence for diagnosing approximal caries based on bite-wing radiography were 67%, 100% and those of specificity were 57%, 11% which showed diagnostic specificity was relatively lower than sensitivity. 4. The difference in optical density(DFR) between sound teeth and carious lesions according to lesion depth was high with dye-enhanced laser fluorescence compared with laser fluorescence. DFR measured with laser fluorescence according to changes in lesion depth was statistically significant but was not statistically significant with dye-enhanced laser fluorescence. Based on these results, laser fluorescence and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence have comparable diagnostic power as bite-wing radiography in early diagnosis of proximal caries.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2009

In clinical pediatric dentistry, we have many chances to encounter the white spot like incipient enamel lesions on the mesial surfaces of the 1st molars with direct vision, especially just after the 2nd primary molars were exfoliated. But it was thought highly desirable to assess if these lesions are properly and effectively managed yet. This study aims at surveying the prevalence of incipient lesions on the mesial surfaces of the 1st molars in children through direct observation and examining the suitability of adhesive sealing on them as a pilot trial in searching for their proper management. 1. Among the 124 mesial surfaces of the 1st molars examined, 34% were sound, 53% had incipient carious lesions and 13% had cavitated lesions. 2. In the sectional views of the specimens, 20% showed microleakage after thermo-cycling and it was thought not recommendable as a permanent method. Therefore in order to effectively fight against the incipient caries lesions in children‘s permanent teeth, it was thought proper not to rely on any one method, but to perform reinforcing oral hygiene and promotion of remineralization in combination with therapeutic sealing which is stronger in short-term sealing effect. Although therapeutic sealing has been considered as the core in minimally invasive concept to treat the white spot lesions, its long-term clinical trials have not been suggested. Continuous research is strongly required for making this approach to acquire permanent nature, especially in regards of proper pretreatment and high molecular materials deeply penetrable into enamel.