A number of caries detection devices are available in the market today. Each of these is based on a certain underlying physical principle such as X- Rays, Visible light, Laser light, Electrical current and Ultrasound (Pretty, I. 2006).
The four basic characteristics that need to be looked at for comparing devices are explained below.
1. Reliability
Reliability ensures a procedure that is consistent, stable and dependable with minimal error on repeated measurement of the same variable (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). This is an important characteristic as the caries diagnosis device must be able to repeatedly give consistent results with different operators. Equipment reliability testing involves in-vitro tests to test the reliability of the equipment …show more content…
Validity
Validity of a procedure is the extent to which it measures what it claims to measure. Accuracy is the degree to which a systemic procedure is free from systematic error or bias. A procedure can be accurate and not be valid but if a procedure is valid it cannot be inaccurate (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). Hence, the validity governs the accuracy of the device to measure caries.
3. Sensitivity
Sensitivity of a procedure correctly detects people having the disease in terms of percentage (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). It is a procedure that determines the accuracy of any procedure that is its ability to correctly identify true positives (presence of disease). Hence, the device must have a high sensitivity (100% means that every diseased individual has been identified). Low sensitivity means there have been errors such as missed diagnosis.
4. Specificity
It is the percentage of disease free individuals diagnosed correctly. A procedure that always gives negative results for healthy individuals has 100% specificity. Therefore, the device must have a high specificity to correctly identify true negatives (absence of …show more content…
AEGIS Communications (2012), Inside Dentistry 8(11). [online] Available at: https://www.dentalaegis.com/id/2012/11/dental-caries-detection-or-diagnosis [Accessed on: 15/04/2015].
2. Summitt, J. et al. (2001) Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry. 2nd edition. Illinois: Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc.
3. Pretty, I.A. et al, (2004). A Closer Look at Diagnosis in Clinical Dental Practice: Part 1. In: Reliability, Validity, Specificity and Sensitivity of Diagnostic Procedures. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(4), pp.251-255, Ottawa: Canadian Dental Association.
4. Pretty, I.A. et al, (2004). A Closer Look At Diagnosis In Clinical Dental Practice: Part 2. In: Using Predictive Values and Receiver Operating Characteristics in Assessing Diagnostic Accuracy Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(4), pp.313-316, Ottawa: Canadian Dental Association.
5. Pretty, I.A., and Maupome, G. (2004) A Closer Look at Diagnosis in Clinical Dental Practice: Part 5. In: Emerging Technologies for Caries Detection and Diagnosis. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70 (8) September, pp. 540, 540a -
The four basic characteristics that need to be looked at for comparing devices are explained below.
1. Reliability
Reliability ensures a procedure that is consistent, stable and dependable with minimal error on repeated measurement of the same variable (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). This is an important characteristic as the caries diagnosis device must be able to repeatedly give consistent results with different operators. Equipment reliability testing involves in-vitro tests to test the reliability of the equipment …show more content…
Validity
Validity of a procedure is the extent to which it measures what it claims to measure. Accuracy is the degree to which a systemic procedure is free from systematic error or bias. A procedure can be accurate and not be valid but if a procedure is valid it cannot be inaccurate (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). Hence, the validity governs the accuracy of the device to measure caries.
3. Sensitivity
Sensitivity of a procedure correctly detects people having the disease in terms of percentage (Pretty, I.A. et al. 2004). It is a procedure that determines the accuracy of any procedure that is its ability to correctly identify true positives (presence of disease). Hence, the device must have a high sensitivity (100% means that every diseased individual has been identified). Low sensitivity means there have been errors such as missed diagnosis.
4. Specificity
It is the percentage of disease free individuals diagnosed correctly. A procedure that always gives negative results for healthy individuals has 100% specificity. Therefore, the device must have a high specificity to correctly identify true negatives (absence of …show more content…
AEGIS Communications (2012), Inside Dentistry 8(11). [online] Available at: https://www.dentalaegis.com/id/2012/11/dental-caries-detection-or-diagnosis [Accessed on: 15/04/2015].
2. Summitt, J. et al. (2001) Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry. 2nd edition. Illinois: Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc.
3. Pretty, I.A. et al, (2004). A Closer Look at Diagnosis in Clinical Dental Practice: Part 1. In: Reliability, Validity, Specificity and Sensitivity of Diagnostic Procedures. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(4), pp.251-255, Ottawa: Canadian Dental Association.
4. Pretty, I.A. et al, (2004). A Closer Look At Diagnosis In Clinical Dental Practice: Part 2. In: Using Predictive Values and Receiver Operating Characteristics in Assessing Diagnostic Accuracy Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(4), pp.313-316, Ottawa: Canadian Dental Association.
5. Pretty, I.A., and Maupome, G. (2004) A Closer Look at Diagnosis in Clinical Dental Practice: Part 5. In: Emerging Technologies for Caries Detection and Diagnosis. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70 (8) September, pp. 540, 540a -