Use of Radiographic Contrast to Detect Dental Caries

The proposed test is intended to enable dentists to differentiate between cavitated and non-cavitated tooth decay in the areas where teeth are in contact (interproximal surfaces). In these areas, dentists cannot visually inspect for caries, and currently bitewing X-rays (BWs) only correctly detect the presence of enamel decay 15-25% of the time. This low sensitivity can lead to late treatment resulting in unnecessarily large fillings, crowns, pain, root canals, and possible later loss of teeth.

Hypothesis: Use of radiographic contrast on teeth will increase the accuracy of detection of early cavitation from 58% to 90%.

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Key information

Conditions

Dental Caries Stomatognathic Diseases Tooth Demineralization Tooth Diseases

Age range

19 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Omaha, Nebraska, 68178, United States

About this study

Tooth sites will be recorded by tooth number, type of surface (mesial, distal,occlusal), cavitated, non-cavitated, healthy. Radiographs will similarly be scored.Although contrast agents are classified as drugs this is not a study of drug properties or effect on cells since the properties of the agent are already well know and its safety record well established. This study will be recording the radiopacity of the contrast agent on healthy tooth surfaces, non-cavitated tooth surfaces and cavitated tooth surfaces. The outcome for each surface type will be presence or absence of a radiopacity on a radiograph which will be made at the one and only visit for each study subject. The radiograph contains the data from the intervention (placement of contrast agent) and the outcome will be assessed some weeks later after the completion of the data collection.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

must have a minimum of 2 adjacent teeth so that interproximal surfaces of interest are in contact and hidden from direct visual inspection.
the occlusal plane should be normal so that the interproximal contact regions are normal.
English or Spanish speaker.

Exclusion criteria

pregnant women
a person who has participated in a similar study involving dental radiography within the last 12 months.
fillings must not be present in the regions of interest.

Treatment and study plan

Radiographic contrast agent. Sodium Iodide.

Device

Application of Sodium Iodide contrast topically to tooth immediately followed by radiograph.

Primary outcomes

Presence of a radiopacity below the tooth surface at a site likely to develop tooth decay.

Time frame: Immediately after application of contrast agent.

The PI will perform the clinical application of the contrast agent and radiograph the subject. In this way it will be known that the data has been collected. At a later date 3 independent dentists will be provided with blinded radiographs in a randomized order to report the presence or absence of cavitated caries lesions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Creighton University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Use of Radiographic Contrast to Differentiate Cavitated From Non-cavitated Dental Caries

Important dates

Study start: 2012
Primary completion: 2013
Study completion: 2013
First posted: Feb 1, 2012
Registry last updated: Jun 17, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed