Detection of Non-cavitated Occlusal Caries Lesions by Visual Inspection, LF, QLF and NILT

This study aims to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of visual examination using ICDAS-II and three adjunctive optical methods-laser fluorescence (LF), near-infrared light transillumination (NILT), and quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF)-for the detection of non-cavitated occlusal caries lesions in children. A total of 51 children aged 6-14 years, including 320 posterior teeth, will be examined under standardized clinical conditions. Diagnostic performance will be assessed using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) values. The findings are expected to support the use of adjunctive diagnostic methods for early detection and minimally invasive management of occlusal caries.