Prevalence of DSC when screening patients with bite-wing radiographs

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  What is the prevalence of distal surface caries (DSC) in the lower second molar when screening patients with bite-wing radiographs: A multi-center study

• IRAS ID

  265014

• Contact name

  Hugh Devlin

• Contact email

  hugh.devlin@manchester.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Manchester

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  NHS001559, N/A

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 4 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Research Summary:
  In the UK, the clinical guidelines state that impacted wisdom teeth should be left in place unless they are associated with quite strict criteria (e.g. repeated episodes of pericoronitis, unrestorable caries, non-treatable pulpal or periapical pathology, abscess, osteomyelitis, internal or external resportion, fracture, tooth impeding surgery, reconstructive jaw surgery, tooth involved in tumour resection, cellulitis or disease of the follicle including cysts/tumours).

  As a result, some clinicians feel that there is an increasing incidence of caries that develops in both teeth as a result of the persistence of this stagnation area between the teeth. We have analysed the literature in depth and found a high reported prevalence of distal surface caries (DSC) in second mandibular molars. But this prevalence may be high because it represents a population of referred hospital patients and does not relate to the prevalence in the general population. In this study we propose to investigate the prevalence of distal surface caries (DSC) in the second mandibular molar adjacent to an impacted wisdom tooth by examining existing radiographs (radiographs which have not been taken as part of this study) of patients who attended the Manchester Dental Hospital for routine dental examination.

  We are also collaborating with three other centers, two is based in the US (Temple University of Kornberg and University of Indianapolis) and there other in Brazil (University of Louisville). The wisdom tooth guidelines in the US and Brazil recommend early removal of wisdom teeth with an emphasis on prevention unlike the UK-based guidance which has been issued by NICE (National Institute and Care Excellence). We are therefor foreseeing a difference in prevalence of DSC in the UK vs US and Brazil.

  Summary of Results:
  No data collected

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/WM/0008

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Jan 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion