Comparison of diagnostic effects of infrared imaging and bitewing radiography in proximal caries of permanent teeth

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of VistaCam iX intraoral camera system using infrared light and bitewing radiography for detection of proximal caries in permanent teeth. This in vitro study was performed on 108 teeth. The proximal surfaces of the teeth were examined for caries using ICDAS II criteria, bitewing radiography, and the Proxi head of VistaCam iX. The teeth were then sectioned and histologically analyzed (gold standard). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 via the correlation test at P < 0.05 level of significance. The overall and segmental sensitivity and specificity values were calculated for (1) the contact area and higher regions, (2) below the contact area to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), and (3) below the CEJ. Radiography had the highest specificity. VistaCam had the highest overall and segmental sensitivity for enamel caries. Radiography had the highest segmental sensitivity for dentin. In region 1, VistaCam had the highest sensitivity and lowest specificity, and radiography and ICDAS II had the highest specificity and lowest sensitivity. In region 2, radiography showed the highest sensitivity and specificity. VistaCam had the lowest sensitivity and ICDAS II had the lowest specificity in this region. In region 3, VistaCam did not detect any caries and radiography had a better performance than ICDAS II. The specificity value was equal for both methods. VistaCam had the highest diagnostic efficacy among the three methods for caries in region 1; however, bitewing radiography had a superior efficacy in regions 2 and 3.