Comparison of Cone Beam Computerized Tomography and Phosphor Storage Plate in Detecting Artificial Buccal Recurrent Caries

Introduction Recurrent or secondary caries develops at the margin of restorations and causes restorative failure. We conducted this study to compare the performance of Phosphor Storage Plate (PSP) and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan in detecting buccal recurrent caries under amalgam and composite resin restorations. Materials and Methods Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface of 42 extracted human premolars and molars. Twenty-one teeth were filled with amalgam and the other 21 with composite resin. Artificial buccal recurrent caries was simulated on 11 amalgam and 10 composite restored teeth. The teeth were randomly mounted on acrylic resin arches. CBCT and intraoral parallel periapical radiographs (with PSP) were taken to detect the recurrent caries under restorations. Results The agreement rates between CBCT (tangential plane) and carious teeth were respectively 52.4% (Kappa=0.079, P =0.593) and 76.2% (Kappa=0.512, P =0.007) in amalgam and composite resin restorations. Also, the agreement rates between CBCT (cross-sectional plane) and carious teeth were respectively 90.5% (Kappa=0.811, P =0.000) and 100% (Kappa=1.00, P =0.000) in amalgam and composite resin restorations. Finally, the agreement rates between CBCT (periapical radiographs) and carious teeth were respectively 80.9% (Kappa=0.625, P =0.002) and 95.2% (Kappa=0.905, P =0.000) in amalgam and composite resin restorations. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that the sensitivity of CBCT in different planes was higher than that of PSP, and the cross-sectional plane had more sensitivity than a tangential plane in the detection of recurrent caries.