Accurate detection and monitoring of occlusal caries are crucial for effective dental care, particularly in young patients. Traditional methods rely on visual and radiographic assessment, but advancements in technology have introduced automated systems for caries detection. In a recent study, the agreement between conventional methods and an intraoral scanner supporting automated caries scoring was evaluated over a 30-month period.


This study was published in the Journal Of Dentistry by Stavroula and colleagues. Ninety-one participants aged 12–19 years were included in the study. Occlusal surfaces were examined visually, radiographically (as needed), and scanned using the TRIOS 4 intraoral scanner. Automated caries detection was performed using TRIOS Patient Monitoring software.
The key findings of the study were:
• Fifty-five participants were re-examined after 30 months.
• Significant differences in caries detection were observed between conventional methods and the automated system (p < 0.01), with moderate positive percent agreement (49–61%) and high negative percent agreement (87–98%).
• All methods showed significant caries progression over the follow-up period (p < 0.01).
• The automated system detected significantly more caries progression compared to other methods (p < 0.01).
The automated caries detection system demonstrated moderate positive agreement and strong negative agreement with conventional methods at baseline and follow-up assessments. While it can assist in detecting and monitoring occlusal caries, it tends to underestimate caries presence and severity. Dentists should use the automated system as a complementary tool to conventional methods, being mindful of its tendency for underestimation.
The TRIOS system supporting automated occlusal caries detection provides valuable assistance in dental practice. Dentists should interpret results cautiously, considering the system's tendency to underestimate caries severity. It offers a promising approach for enhancing caries detection and monitoring in young patients.
Reference:
Michou, S., Tsakanikou, A., Bakhshandeh, A., Ekstrand, K. R., Rahiotis, C., & Benetti, A. R. Occlusal caries detection and monitoring using a 3D intraoral scanner system. An in vivo assessment. Journal of Dentistry,2024;143(104900):104900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104900