Systematic Reviews
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World J Clin Cases. Oct 16, 2014; 2(10): 552-564
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i10.552
Reporting of dental status from full-arch radiographs: Descriptive analysis and methodological aspects
Fabian Huettig, Detlef Axmann
Fabian Huettig, Detlef Axmann, Department of Prosthodontics with Section “Medical Materials and Technology” at the Centre of Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Maxillofacial Surgery of Eberhard-Karls-University Hospital, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Author contributions: Huettig F and Axmann D established the search strategy, selection criteria and methodology of report; Huettig F performed the literature research, selected the articles and performed the full text review; Axmann D reviewed the data aquisiton by spot tests; Huettig F wrote and Axmann D reviewed the paper.
Supported by The “Walter and Anna Koerner-Scholarship” as part of the Land of Baden-Wurttemberg’s Dentists Chamber (Stuttgart, Germany) within the cooperation of Tuebingen University and Peking University Dental Schools; by Mrs. Barbara Welder of Dental Clinics Library at Eberhard-Karls-University (Tuebingen, Germany); by Lucas M Leister for English proofreading
Correspondence to: Dr. Fabian Hüttig, Department of Prosthodontics with Section “Medical Materials and Technology” at the Centre of Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Maxillofacial Surgery of Eberhard-Karls-University Hospital, Osianderstrasse 2-8, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany. fabian.huettig@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Telephone: +49-7071-2986183 Fax: +49-7071-295917
Received: April 10, 2014
Revised: July 11, 2014
Accepted: August 27, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To identify standards, how entities of dental status are assessed and reported from full-arch radiographs of adults.

METHODS: A PubMed (Medline) search was performed in November 2011. Literature had to report at least one out of four defined entities using radiographs: number of teeth or implants; caries, fillings or restorations; root-canal fillings and apical health; alveolar bone level. Cohorts included to the study had to be of adult age. Methods of radiographic assessment were noted and checked for the later mode of report in text, tables or diagrams. For comparability, the encountered mode of report was operationalized to a logical expression.

RESULTS: Thirty-seven out of 199 articles were evaluated via full-text review. Only one article reported all four entities. Eight articles reported at the maximum 3 comparable entities. However, comparability is impeded because of the usage of absolute or relative frequency, mean or median values as well as grouping. Furthermore the methods of assessment were different or not described sufficiently. Consequently, established sum scores turned out to be highly questionable, too. The amount of missing data within all studies remained unclear. It is even so remissed to mention supernumerary and aplased teeth as well as the count of third molars.

CONCLUSION: Data about dental findings from radiographs is, if at all possible, only comparable with serious limitations. A standardization of both, assessing and reporting entities of dental status from radiographs is missing and has to be established within a report guideline.

Keywords: Research design, Guideline, Dental radiography, Epidemiology, Public health, EQUATOR

Core tip: Full mouth dental radiographs are in worldwide daily use and contain various informations about dental and oral health of adult patients. This is why it is often used for epidemiologic research or to augment clinical data. But, when reported, data is presented in multifarious ways. Thus no or only little comparison of research outcome is possible. Existing standards of evaluation and reporting should be fixed in a reporting guideline regarding: number of teeth and implants; caries, fillings and restorations; root-canal fillings and apical health; alveolar bone level. Application of sum scores turned out to be very questionable.