Vergleich dreier Verfahren zur Diagnostik von Zahninfrakturen
by Lisa Harms
Date of Examination:2024-07-02
Date of issue:2024-06-28
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Michael Hülsmann
Referee:Prof. Dr. Matthias Rödiger
Referee:Prof. Dr. Ralf Dressel
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Abstract
English
Objectives Tooth fractures are a common cause of tooth loss, frequently starting as enamel cracks and propagating to tooth or root fractures. However, methods for the detection of enamel and dentinal cracks are poorly understood and investigated. The aim of the study was the validation of three clinical methods for the detection of enamel cracks: dental operating microscope (DOM), near-infrared transillumination (NIR), and fiber-optic transillumination (FOTI) with hard-tissue slices serving as controls. Materials and Methods A total of 89 extracted teeth, set up as diagnostic models, were investigated by two examiners for the presence of enamel cracks. The maximum crack depth was scored for each tooth on four tooth surfaces (mesial, distal, vestibular, oral). Finally, the actual crack depth was determined microscopically (25x) using horizontal sections. The accuracy of each method was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Results Across all tooth surfaces, the AUC amounted to 0.57 (DOM), 0.70 (FOTI), and 0.67 (NIR). For crack detection on vestibular/oral surfaces, the AUC was 0.61 (DOM), 0.78 (FOTI), and 0.74 (NIR), and for approximal surfaces 0.59 (DOM), 0.65 (FOTI), and 0.67 (NIR). However, the actual crack depth was underestimated with each method (p<0.001). The inter-rater agreement of the two examiners was 0.68 (DOM) and 0.72 (FOTI, NIR). Conclusions Under in vitro conditions, FOTI and NIR are suitable for detection of enamel cracks, especially on vestibular and oral tooth surfaces. However, an exact estimation of the crack depth is not possible. Clinical Relevance FOTI and NIR seem to be helpful for the detection of enamel cracks. Clinical studies are necessary to confirm the results.
Keywords: Cracked tooth syndrome; Dental operating microscope; Enamel crack; Fiber-optic transillumination; Near-infrared transillumination