Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) 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 conventional (all-studies) meta-analysis, pooled specificity of visual detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 75.3% (95% CI 70 to 80) (ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
- Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and Germany. 2018 All outcomesConventional meta-analysis (all studies)Specificity 75.3 [70, 80]67 studiesGRADE not reported
- 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 91.2 [88, 94]12 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 77.0 [73, 81]51 studiesGRADE not reported