Clinical Analysis of Molar Fissures by Cone-Beam Tomography

This study aimed to validate clinical analysis of 20 pediatric dentists on occlusal groove-fossa-system of molar depth comparing to Cone-beam tomography. The 48 sound third molars were visually classified from the shallowest to the deepest. Images were taken from the Accuitomo 3DX. There was a fair correlation between clinical analysis and the tomographic scorings (rs= 0.238; P=0.103). It was concluded that pediatric dentists were not able to classify the fissures depth by visual analysis correctly.

molar fissures, tomagraphy, fissure depth

1. Basting RT, Serra MC. Occlusal caries: diagnosis and non-invasive treatments. Restorative Dentistry 30(3): 174-178, 1999.

2. Ekstrand K, Ricketts D, Kidd E, Qvist V, Schou S. Detec-tion, Diagnosing, Monitoring and Logical Treatment of Oc-clusal Caries in Relation to Lesion Activity and Severity: An in vivo Examination with Histological Validation. Caries Res 32:247-254, 1998.

3. Ekstrand K, Bjørndal L. Structural analyses of plaque and caries in relation to the morphology of the groove-fossa system on erupting mandibular third molars. Caries Res 31 (5):336-48, 1997.

4. Ie YL, Verdonschot EH, Schaeken MJM, Van´t Hof MA. Electrical Conductance of Fissure Enamel in Recently Erupt-ed Molar Teeth as Related to Caries Status. Caries Res 29:94-99, 1995.

5. König KG. Dental morphology in relation to caries resis-tence with special reference to fissures as susceptible areas. J Dent Res Supplement 1; 42:461-473, 1963.

6. Julh M. Localization of carious lesions in occlusal pits and fissures of human premolars, Scand J Dent Res 91:251-255, 1983.

7. Duangthip D, Lussi A. Effects of application techniques and fissure types on the in vitro performance of two fissure seal-ants. Am J Dent 17:137-142, 2004.

8. Lussi A. Validity of Diagnostic and Treatment Decisions of Fissures Caries. Caries Res 25:296-303, 1991.

9. Ferreira Zandoná AG, Analoui M, Beiswanger BB, Isaacs RL, Kafrawy AH, Eckert GJ, Stookey GK. An in vitro Com-parison between Laser Fluorescence and Visual Examination for Detection of Demineralization in Occlusal Pits and Fis-sures. Caries Res 32: 210-218, 1998.

10. Costa AM, Yamaguti PM, De Paula LM, Bezerra ACB. In vi-tro of laser diode 655 nm diagnosis of occlusal caries. Journal of Dentistry for children Set/ Dec; 249-253, 2002.

11. Ten Cate JM, Damen JJM, Buijs MJ. Inhibition of dentin de-mineralization by fluoride in vitro. Caries Res 32:141-147, 1998.

12. Pereira AC, Verdonschot EH, Huysmans MCDNJM. Caries detection methods: can they aid decision making for inva-sive sealant treatment? Caries Res 35: 83-89, 2001.

13. Fung L, Smales R, Ngo H, Mount G. Diagnostic comparison of three groups of examiners using visual and laser fluores-cence methods to detect occlusal caries in vitro. Australian Dent J 49(2):67-71, 2004.

14. Côrtes D, Ellwood R, Ekstrand K. An in vitro Comparison of a Combined FOTI/Visual Examination of Occlusal C a r i e s with Other Caries Diagnostic Methods and the Effect of Their Diagnostic Performance. Caries Res 37:8-16, 2003.

15. Bader J, Shugars A, Bonito A. A Systematic Review of the Performance of Methods for Identifying Carious Lesions. J Public Health Dent 62(4):201-13, 2002.

16. Hintze H, Wenzel A. Diagnostic Outcome of methods Fre- quently Used for Caries Validation. Caries Res 37:115-124, 2003.

17. Arai Y, Honda K, Iwai K, Shinoda K. Practical Model 3DX of limited cone-beam X-ray.CT for dental use. International Congress Series 1230:713-718, 2001.

18. Cardoso M, Baratieri LN, Ritter AV. Does clinical practice affect occlusal caries diagnosis and sealant recommendation?An in vitro study. Journal of dentistry for children Jul/Aug; 250- 254, 2001.

19. Ekstrand K, Carlsen O, Thylstrup A. Morphometric analysis of occlusal groove-fossa-system in mandibular third molars. Scand j dent Res 99(3): 196-204, 1991.

20. Hirano Y, Aoba T. Computer-assisted reconstruction of enamel fissures and carious lesions of human premolars. J Dent Res 74(5):1200-1205, 1995.

21. Symons AL, Chu CY, Meyers IA. The effect of fissure mor-phology and pretreatment of the enamel surface on penetra-tion and adhesion of fissure sealants. Journal of Oral Rehab-ilitation 23:791-798, 1996.