Radiographic Study of the Area-Volume Relationship in Interproximal Cavities

¹ Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, Massachusetts

The area-volume relationship of 54 interproximal cavities in extracted human teeth was studied using a standardized and reproducible radiographic technic. It was found that in interproximal cavities there is a quantitative area-volume relationship that [see figure in the PDF file] [see table in the PDF file] [see figure in the PDF file] can be detected radiographically. This relationship varied with different morphologic types of teeth. Calculation of the coefficients of correlation showed a higher correlation for anterior teeth (r = 0.90) than for bicuspids (r = 0.84) or molars (r = 0.89).

When combined with intraoral repositional radiography, this method could be used to study the progress of caries within the same tooth between examinations. It should also be possible to use smaller numbers of subjects in clinical trials of anticaries agents, because the volume of a carious lesion is a more accurate estimate of the degree of carious involvement of that tooth.