Comparison of an intra-oral photographic caries assessment with an established visual caries assessment method for use in dental epidemiological studies of children.

Objectives: A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare a visual dental examination method developed by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry with assessment of intra-oral photographs as means of detecting dental caries in 5-year-olds and 10- to 11-year-olds.

Method: 130 5-year-olds and 140 10- to 11-year-olds were visually examined by five trained and calibrated examiners. The children also had intra-oral photographs of their teeth taken.

The views of examiners on the use of intra-oral photographs to detect dental caries in epidemiological studies.

Aim: The aim of the study was to obtain the views of examiners on their experience of using intra-oral photographs as a means of detecting caries in epidemiological studies compared to an established visual examination method.

Method: A focus group discussion was conducted with five examiners experienced in an established visual examination method after they had performed visual dental examinations of a sample of children as well as assessed intra-oral photographs of the same children.

Results: The time taken by examiners to assess intraoral photographs becomes extended when compared to performing a visual examination.

Children's views on the experience of a visual examination and intra-oral photographs to detect dental caries in epidemiological studies.

Aim: To elicit children's views on the established visual examination method used for the epidemiological surveillance of dental caries and an experimental intra-oral photographic examination method.

Method: Focus group interviews were conducted with 5-year-olds (with the aid of a puppet) and 10/11-year-olds (without puppet) after experiencing both methods. Ten focus groups were conducted in each cohort.

Comparison of caries detection methods using varying numbers of intra-oral digital photographs with visual examination for epidemiology in children.

Background: This was a method comparison study. The aim of study was to compare caries information obtained from a full mouth visual examination using the method developed by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) for epidemiological surveys with caries data obtained from eight, six and four intra-oral digital photographs of index teeth in two groups of children aged 5 years and 10/11 years.

Methods: Five trained and calibrated examiners visually examined the whole mouth of 240 5-year-olds and 250 10-/11-year-olds using the BASCD method.

Comparison of photographic and visual assessment of occlusal caries with histology as the reference standard.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare diagnostic performance for the detection of caries using photographs with an established visual examination method and histological sections as the reference standard.

Methods: 50 extracted permanent teeth were assessed for the presence of occlusal caries by 9 examiners using two methods; traditional visual examination developed by BASCD and photographs produced by an intra-oral camera. For both methods, diagnoses were made at "caries into dentine" level.