Transversal microradiography is the most widely accepted method used to study changes in mineral content profiles. In spite of its widespread use, relatively little information is available on its validity and reproducibility. Following the recommendation of the Consensus Conference on Intraoral Model Systems, this study was designed to explore reproducibility of lesion analysis within a laboratory and comparability of analysis among various laboratories. Incipient enamel lesions were produced by four research groups using both a common (‘standard’) and a local (‘preferred’) protocol. Sections were produced by each group and allocated to ‘mixed’ bags of specimens, which were analysed by the groups. With the chosen scheme some sections were analysed six times by the same group (as an internal reference standard) while others were analysed by all four groups. The data for the mineral content profiles were expressed as the integrated mineral loss (IML) value and lesion depth. The results showed the lesions produced with the standard protocol to be in the range 2,000–3,000 vol% mineral × μm for IML. The IML of the lesions produced with the preferred protocol varied between 1,800 and 6,300 vol% mineral × μm. Variation in IML values could be attributed to the biological variation between lesions, but also to time (of microradiograph production) and measurement effects, calibration of the magnification of the specimens, and the parameters used in the algorithm to calculate IML. Some of these parameters also affected the lesion depth. It is advised to standardise (or at least report) the method of calculation of IML, and to include a reference lesion between analyses in a longitudinal study as an internal standard. With the data produced, it was calculated that the number of lesions required to differentiate between preventive treatments varied substantially among laboratories. The recommendations given will improve the power of the screening methods for caries-preventive agents for which microradiography is an essential analytical method.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.