Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2013
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
30
Issue:
1

The views of examiners on the use of intra-oral photographs to detect dental caries in epidemiological studies

doi:10.1922/CDH_2989Boye05

Aim: The aim of the study was to obtain the views of examiners on their experience of using intra-oral photographs as a means of detecting caries in epidemiological studies compared to an established visual examination method. Method: A focus group discussion was conducted with five examiners experienced in an established visual examination method after they had performed visual dental examinations of a sample of children as well as assessed intra-oral photographs of the same children. Results: The time taken by examiners to assess intraoral photographs becomes extended when compared to performing a visual examination. The ability to assess intra-oral photographs on a screen at a convenient time and place was considered advantageous. The examiners found it easier to make caries detection decisions on intra-oral photographs of primary teeth than permanent teeth. Adequate removal of debris and moisture control prior to obtaining the photographs were considered important. Conclusion: The views of examiners in this study suggest that to improve the utility of photographic method, further research is needed to determine adequate drying methods for use in the field. Consideration should be given to a time-limited, standardised presentation of the photographs including the size and resolution. Specific training on caries detection from photographs is also required.

Key words: intraoral photography, dental caries activity tests, epidemiology, oral examination, qualitative evaluation, examiners’ views

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
34
Page End
38
Authors
U. Boye, G.R.K. Foster, I.A. Pretty, M. Tickle

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry at forty: our professional project
  2. 2
  3. 4

  1. Acknowledgement of Referees
  2. 5
  3. 5

  1. Dental Public Health in Action - Challenges encountered when conducting a dental health needs assessment of older people resident in care homes: experience from England
  2. 6
  3. 9

  1. Rare diseases with oral components: care course and quality of life
  2. 10
  3. 14

  1. Fluoridation and dental caries severity in young children treated under general anaesthesia: an analysis of treatment records in a 10-year case series
  2. 15
  3. 18

  1. Measuring determinants of oral health behaviour in parents of preschool children
  2. 19
  3. 25

  1. The self-reported oral health status and dental attendance of smokers and non-smokers
  2. 26
  3. 29

  1. Attitudes towards the use of fluorides for oral health among Islamic clerics in Kelantan Province, Malaysia
  2. 30
  3. 33

  1. The views of examiners on the use of intra-oral photographs to detect dental caries in epidemiological studies
  2. 34
  3. 38

  1. Caries experience and treatment need in adults with intellectual disabilities in two German regions
  2. 39
  3. 44

  1. Attitudes towards establishing a daily supervised school-based toothbrushing programme - determined by Q-sort methodology
  2. 45
  3. 51

  1. Oral health literacy comparisons between Indigenous Australians and American Indians
  2. 52
  3. 57

  1. Oral health literacy comparisons between Indigenous Australians and American Indians
  2. 52
  3. 57