Use of laser fluorescence in the diagnosis of enamel caries: systemic review and meta-analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfo.v38n1e362064Keywords:
dental caries, fluorescence, sensitivity and specificity, meta-analysisAbstract
Introduction: caries is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Traditional diagnostic methods show significant limitations in sensitivity and specificity. Laser fluorescence has emerged as a complementary tool that provides more reliable and reproducible measurements. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of laser fluorescence for the identification of enamel caries through a meta-analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve. Methods: a systematic search was conducted in PubMed and LILACS databases (2019 - 2024), to identify original studies that met the eligibility criteria defined by PIRDS methodological guidelines for diagnostic tests. Clinical and in vitro studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of laser fluorescence for enamel caries were included. Studies on dentin, root lesions, and artificially induced caries were excluded. The main study variables were extracted and described. Results: from an initial sample of 84 articles, seven met the eligibility criteria. The wavelength used in most studies was 655 nm. Sensitivity had a mean of 0.7988 (95 % CI 0.7345 – 0.8632). Specificity had a mean of 0.7567 (95 % CI 0.5539 – 0.9595). The area under the ROC curve had a mean of 0.800 (95 % CI 0.7085 – 0.8915). These findings indicate that laser fluorescence has acceptable diagnostic performance, although its accuracy varies depending on clinical context and methodology used. Conclusion: laser fluorescence is a useful complementary tool for the diagnosis of enamel caries, standing out for its validity and reliability. However, it should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic method.
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