Assessment of Dental Pathologies Using Digital Tools

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

Digital technology is playing an increasingly important role in dentistry, because of its ability to support the practitioner and increase work efficiency.

Among digital tools, orthopantomogram (OPT or panoramic) radiography is currently the most widely used. It provides a global view of the jaws, highlighting internal structures in 2D.

As in other fields, scientific advances have made it possible to go beyond the limited representation of two planes of space and obtain 3D images.

The intraoral scanner (IOS) or "optical impression camera" appeared in the mid-80s. They use light to create a digital optical impression that reproduces the surface of external anatomical structures in 3D images. It improves dental practice, making impressions less uncomfortable for patients, saving clinical time, facilitating storage and archiving, and facilitating transmission to the prosthetist where appropriate. This type of device is already well established in dental practices.

More recently, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has also begun to develop. This 3D sectional imaging technique adds an extra dimension to the exploration of internal structures.

Imaging examinations provide additional information to that obtained from the visual clinical oral examination. Together, they help the practitioner to establish the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Currently, visual information has to be collected manually. Collecting this data represents a significant amount of information. Its quality and completeness are crucial to the success of the treatment.

Given the high volume of consultations, and practitioners' need to optimize their time, it would be interesting to assess whether optical impressions, at least in part, could help to acquire this clinical data more systematically and more rapidly, in order to improve patient management.

Similarly, Cone Beam CT (CBCT), with its 3D data, improves the accuracy of diagnostic information. It would also be interesting to assess the real added value of this examination.

The RESTODATA-NUM study follows on from the RESTODATA study, the results of which provided recent information on the oral status of adult patients, and their care needs.

The aim of this study is to compare the performance of a standard real-life examination by the practitioner combining clinical and radiographic examinations (referred to here as practitioner-on-patient detection) on the one hand, and an examination based on imaging results obtained using digital tools on the other, in terms of detecting dental condition in a sample of adult patients consulting for an oral examination at one of the participating centers.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Number of Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition, measured both clinically and from intraoral scan (IOS) images using the DMFT index — at the day of the dental examination
  Number of Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition, measured both clinically and from intraoral scan (IOS) images using the DMFT index

Trial sites (22)

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