Document Type

Thesis

Title

Comparing the efficacy of laser fluorescence and explorer examination in detecting subgingival calculus in vivo

Authors

Mark McCawley, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Dentistry

Department

College of Dental Medicine

First Advisor

Bronstein, Diana

Publication Date / Copyright Date

8-2015

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

Mark McCawley. 2015. Comparing the efficacy of laser fluorescence and explorer examination in detecting subgingival calculus in vivo. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Dental Medicine. (65)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_cdm_stuetd/65.

Abstract

This paper investigated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision of laser fluorescence and tactile probing for the detection of subgingival calculus. The gold standard for subgingival calculus detection has always been tactile probing. In this study 27 teeth were collected and 108 surfaces investigated, one tooth was excluded (group #13) where no calculus was observed on any surface, and three surfaces because of subgingival root caries to avoid confounding data, which left a total of 101 surfaces of 26 extracted teeth that meet the investigation criteria. The presence of subgingival calculus was observed on 75 tooth surfaces (74.25%). There was a correlation between tooth surface and the presence of calculus. Subgingival calculus was from most to least frequently observed on the Distal surface (92.0%), Lingual surface (76.9%), Mesial surface (70.8%) and Facial surface (57.7%). The amount of laser fluoresce increased according to the amount of subgingival calculus. There was a correlation between the amount of subgingival calculus and the amount of laser fluorescence. The tactile probing had a similar sensitivity compared to laser fluorescence for the detection of subgingival calculus. The laser fluorescence was more specific compared to tactile probing for the detection of subgingival calculus. The tactile probing had a similar accuracy compared to laser fluorescence for the detection of subgingival calculus. The laser fluorescence had more precision compared to tactile probing for the detection of subgingival calculus. These results show that by using both tactile probing and laser fluorescence the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision of detecting subgingival calculus can be increased. An increase in the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision of detecting subgingival calculus could help in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from gingival recession and periodontal disease.

Disciplines

Dentistry

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Subgingival calculus, Tactile probing, Tooth sensitivity

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