What do systematic reviews say?

Transillumination and OCT vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Transillumination and OCT had a summary specificity of 0.82 (95% CrI 0.68, 0.91) for detecting enamel caries; low certainty.

• Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. 2022 All outcomes

  General dental practice; in vitro (extracted teeth) and in vivo (clinical) studies · Analysis 2: network meta-analysis (all studies evaluating >=2 index tests)
  Specificity 0.82 [0.68, 0.91]
  64 studies · 24567 participants
  Low

Transillumination and OCT vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Transillumination and OCT had a summary sensitivity of 0.76 (95% CrI 0.63, 0.86) for detecting enamel caries; low certainty.

• Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. 2022 All outcomes

  General dental practice; in vitro (extracted teeth) and in vivo (clinical) studies · Analysis 2: network meta-analysis (all studies evaluating >=2 index tests)
  Sensitivity 0.76 [0.63, 0.86]
  64 studies · 24567 participants
  Low

Transillumination and optical coherence tomography devices (all illumination devices combined: NIR, OCT, and FOTI/DIFOTI) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.87 [0.82, 0.92]
  23 studies
  Low

Transillumination and optical coherence tomography devices (all illumination devices combined: NIR, OCT, and FOTI/DIFOTI) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Sensitivity 0.75 [0.62, 0.85]
  23 studies
  Low

Transillumination/OCT device used as an adjunct to a conventional visual examination vs Reference standard: histology, or enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs (also operative excavation, tooth separation, or microcomputed tomography)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  No studies formally reported the use of the illumination devices as an adjunct to a conventional visual examination, and therefore it has not been possible to make an assessment.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Sensitivity 0.94 [0.88, 0.97]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.83 [0.68, 0.91]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported