In vitro ability of a laser fluorescence device in quantifying approximal caries lesions in primary molars

Objectives: This in vitro study aimed at evaluating the ability of Laser Fluorescence device (LFpen) in quantifying approximal caries lesions in primary molars. Methods: Two examiners assessed 123 approximal surfaces of primary molars using the DIAGNOdent pen (LFpen). Surfaces were determined to be either sound with white-spot lesions or have small cavitations. After sectioning, lesion depth was determined through polarized light microscopy. The intra-/inter-examiner agreement was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analyses. Furthermore, Spearman correlation coefficients (Rs) were calculated between LFpen readings and lesion depth. Results: Correlation between LFpen values and lesion depth was low for both examiners (Rs = 0.36 and 0.51), especially when cavitated lesions were excluded from the analysis (Rs = 0.22 and 0.40). For all surfaces, ICC revealed intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility values of 0.75 and 0.63, respectively, but when only non-cavitated surfaces were analyzed, these values decreased (0.41 and 0.33, respectively). Conclusions: LFpen readings present low correlation with approximal caries lesion depth and low reproducibility, especially in white-spot lesions. Therefore, the device could not be a suitable method for monitoring non-cavitated approximal caries lesion in primary molars. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.