Clinical Trial Proximal Caries Infiltration and Detection

Not Applicable

Terminated

Conditions: Caries,Dental

Interventions: Device: Fluoride varnish & Oral hygiene instruction
Device: Resin infiltration

Registration Number: NCT01796106

Lead Sponsor: DMG Dental Material Gesellschaft mbH

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of resin infiltration (Icon, DMG, Germany) compared to fluoride varnish (Duraphat Fluoride Varnish, Colgate, USA) in the management of proximal early caries lesions in primary molars over 24 months. In addition, this study will assess the use of a scanning fiber endoscope (SFE) laser optical device for the assessment of caries lesions and their progression in comparison to radiographic examination.

A total of 50 participants (age 6-13 years) with at least 1 proximal early caries lesion will be enrolled. The participants will be followed up at 12 and 24 months. Lesion status will be monitored through radiographic and SFE laser optical device imaging.

Detailed Description: Introduction: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. It is a dynamic process that causes destruction of tooth structure by dissolving the enamel. While it is possible to restore the structure and function of the tooth by placing a filling, it is preferable to slow down or reverse the caries process at an early state. Proximal surfaces are hereby particularly susceptible to caries as the contact area between teeth is difficult to access. While non-invasive techniques such as remineralization (using topical fluoride) or biofilm control are options to manage early caries lesions, their effectiveness may be compromised due to poor patient compliance. Alternatives are micro-invasive strategies such as resin infiltration, whereby a highly viscous resin is infiltrated into the porous enamel of caries lesions to erect an internal barrier that blocks acid diffusion, thereby inhibiting caries lesion progression.

Another important aspect in caries management is diagnostic, with visual-tactile examination and radiographs being standard of care. However, visual-tactile techniques are known to be unreliable due to subjectivity and fail to differentiate between varies stages of caries progression. Caries diagnostic is thus assisted by radiographic imaging, which however, also has a limited sensitivity and requires the use of x-rays. While alternatives for caries imaging have been developed (e.g. quantitative laser or light fluorescence (QLF) or electrical conductance measurements (ECM)) no gold standard could be established so far highlighting the need for new save and sensitive imaging techniques.

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of resin infiltration (Icon, DMG, Germany) compared to fluoride varnish (Duraphat Fluoride Varnish, Colgate, USA) in the management of proximal early caries lesions over 24 months. In addition, the use of a SFE laser optical device for the assessment of caries lesions and their progression will be assessed in comparison to radiographic examination.

Materials and Methods: 50 volunteers (age 6-13 years) with at least 1 proximal early caries lesion in primary molars will be enrolled and randomly assigned to the resin infiltration and control groups. In the resin infiltration group early caries lesions will be treated using Icon (DMG), whereas the lesions in the control group will be managed using Oral Hygiene Instructions (OHI) and topical fluoridation (Duraphat Fluoride Varnish, Colgate). Lesion depth will be assessed through radiographic evaluation as well as through a novel optical device based on scanning fiber endoscope (SFE) technology for early caries detection through laser light imaging. SFE laser optical device prototypes developed by the University of Washington's Human Photonics Lab (HPL) will be utilized. Such a device is already in human use for applications such as imaging and cancer screening.

Clinical Significance: Resin infiltration of early caries lesions may be an effective therapeutic strategy in paediatric dentistry to reduce caries progression. Additionally, the SFE optical device may be suitable technology to visualize early caries lesions and their progression, which would offer a safe alternative to radiography for assessing and monitoring dental caries.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

Age 6-13 years
Early caries lesions in primary molars (depth: E1 or E2)
Good general health
Available for 12 & 24 months recalls
Signed consent/assent/HIPAA

Criteria used to assess teeth for acceptance into this study:

Teeth fully erupted, in functional occlusion and
Radiographic evidence of early caries in interproximal areas

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in other study
History of adverse reaction on clinical material
Sensitivity during screening test
Poor access to teeth
Patient refusing radiographic examination

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Fluoride varnish & Oral hygiene instruction	Fluoride varnish & Oral hygiene instruction	Oral hygiene instruction and topical fluoridation therapy (Duraphat Fluoride Varnish, Colgate, USA) will be provided.
Resin infiltration	Resin infiltration	Enrolled proximal early caries lesions will be treated using the resin infiltrant Icon (DMG, Germany).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Lesions That Changed in Size (E1->E2->D1->D2-> Filling)	24 months	Change in categorical lesion depth (progression to next depth category lesion; E1-\>E2-\>D1-\>D2-\>filling) as measured by pairwise comparison of radiographs (baseline versus follow up time point). E1 (lesion within the outer half of enamel), E2 (inner half of enamel), D1 (outer third of dentin), D2 (middle third of dentin).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Lesions That Changed in Size (E1->E2->D1->D2-> Filling)	12 months	Change in categorical lesion depth (progression to next depth category lesion; E1-\>E2-\>D1-\>D2-\>filling) as measured by pairwise comparison of radiographs (baseline versus follow up time point). E1 (lesion within the outer half of enamel), E2 (inner half of enamel), D1 (outer third of dentin), D2 (middle third of dentin).
Validation of SFE Imaging for Lesion Size Assessment: SFE Imaging vs. Radiographic Imaging	0, 12 and 24 months	Categorical lesion depth (E1, E2, D1, D2) is measured using SFE imaging. The results are compared to the assessment of categorical lesion depth using radiographic imaging (state of the art method). Outcomes are defined as follows: 1) positive (if SFE imaging gave the same result as the radiograph analysis), 2) negative (if SFE imaging gave a different result as the radiograph analysis) and 3) failure (if lesion depth could not be assessed using SFE imaging). Categorical lesion depth: E1 (lesion within the outer half of enamel), E2 (inner half of enamel), D1 (outer third of dentin), D2 (middle third of dentin).