Background: The optimal management of a caries lesion involves a precise and reliablediagnosis along with an appropriate treatment decision. The traditional diagnostic methodcontinues being the visual-tactile and it is focused in the detection of cavitated lesions.Currently, caries classification systems that include the early caries lesions and allow fornon-operative or operative treatment decisions are known. The radiography is known as acomplement for the current diagnosis of dental caries. The agreement between the visualtactileand the radiographic caries tests varies depending upon the caries prevalence. Purpose:To compare the number of proximal caries lesions detected radiographically and thevisual-tactile method. Methods: Visual-tactile (DMF-S criteria) and radiographic (bite-wingx-rays) examinations were conducted in 40 16-to-35 year olds. Results: The mean DMF-T was4.9±3.4 (D: 0.2±0.4; M: 0; F: 4.9±3.4). The visual-tactile exam in the posterior teeth showed amean DF-S of 5.0±4.0 (D: 0.2±0.5), and the radiographic of 16.0±3.4 (Radiolucency in dentine:2.9±1.7; in enamel: 13.1±3.3). The level of agreement (Kappa coefficient) between thevisual-tactile and the radiographic methods was insignificant (0.0012-0.08). Conclusion: Theradiographic exam detects 220 % more proximal caries lesions than the visual-tactile examin posterior teeth, which allows emphasizing the importance of the radiographic examinationfor the detection of dental caries.publishersversionPeer reviewe
