TEMPORARY ELECTIVE TOOTH SEPARATION AS A DIAGNOSTIC-AID IN GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE

This study examined the feasibility, acceptability and potential diagnostic value of using a 'blanket' technique for placing elastomeric separators as a diagnostic aid in a general practice situation. Five practices were visited and 211 children between 5 and 15 years were examined. All 211 children accepted the 'clinical without separators' examination, 37 children were unwilling to have the radiographic examination and 12 of the 146 children who required separators refused or removed them. The use of the technique as a routine aid was acceptable to the host practitioners, the parents, most of the patients and to the clinician conducting the study. The method was shown to be valuable in revealing additional approximal lesions. A total of 703 lesions were disclosed by the 'clinical with separators' method, compared with 479 diagnosed by routine clinical examination alone. As many of the additional lesions were at the precavitation stage, this information could be used to target those patients with special needs for preventive care. While the larger dentinal lesions revealed by temporary elective tooth separation were confirmed by bitewing radiographs, many of the small precavitation lesions were not. The results showed, however, that bitewing radiographs were still an important diagnostic aid, especially in the deciduous dentition. Elastomeric separators may have a role as a diagnostic aid in conjunction with bitewings, rather than as a replacement for them. © 1990 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.