Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)
Specificity for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)
In the meta-analysis tailored to Germany, pooled specificity of radiographic detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 84.8% (95% CI 77 to 90) (ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
- Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and Germany. 2018 All outcomesPrivate practice, rural northern Germany · Tailored to GermanySpecificity 84.8 [77, 90]9 studiesGRADE not reported
- Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and Germany. 2018 All outcomesPublic health clinic, Giza (Cairo), Egypt · Tailored to EgyptSpecificity 80.4 [72, 87]11 studiesGRADE not reported
- Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and Germany. 2018 All outcomesConventional meta-analysis (all studies)Specificity 77.8 [70, 84]14 studiesGRADE not reported