Does the disinfection of a photostimulable phosphor plate receptor with peracetic acid impair carious lesions diagnosis?

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of disinfecting a photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP) receptor with peracetic acid on proximal carious lesions diagnosis. Additionally, to evaluate and measure artefacts caused by disinfection.

METHODS

The proximal surfaces of 40 posterior teeth were evaluated by microcomputed tomography to confirm whether they were sound or carious. These teeth were then mounted in 20 phantoms. Using a PSP receptor (Express System), 1 radiograph of each phantom was acquired. Then, 20 disinfections with peracetic acid were performed, corresponding to a disinfection cycle. After the first disinfection cycle, new radiographs were acquired. This process was repeated 9 times, totalling 200 disinfections (10 cycles × 20 disinfections) and 220 radiographs (200 radiographs + 20 baseline radiographs). The radiographs were assessed independently by 5 examiners for carious lesions diagnosis. A radiologist identified and measured the size of the artefacts. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated and compared among the number of disinfections by analysis of variance (α = 0.05). The weighted Kappa index evaluated intra- and inter-examiner agreements.

RESULTS

The disinfections did not affect the diagnostic metrics for detecting proximal carious lesions (P > .05). After 200 disinfections, the biggest artefact measured 0.24 cm. Intra- and inter-examiner agreements ranged from moderate to substantial (0.60-0.69) and from fair to moderate (0.34-0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

After 200 disinfections, the radiographic detection of proximal carious lesions remains unaffected by the disinfection with peracetic acid, and the artefacts are still small.