The strip method and the microelectrode technique in assessing dental plaque pH.

The strip method and the microelectrode technique in assessing dental plaque pH.

Minerva Stomatol. 2017 Oct 03;:

Authors: Cocco F, Cagetti MG, Lingström P, Camoni N, Campus G

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pH strip method has been proposed for use in a clinical setting for the evaluation of dental plaque pH. The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the reliability of the pH-indicator strip method to the microelectrode technique in plaque pH measurement.
METHODS: 136 subjects (7-9 years) were enrolled and, for each subject, measurements of plaque pH were made at two interproximal sites; a total of 272 sites were analysed. Plaque pH was assessed in triplicate using pH-indicator strips (pH range of 4.0-7.0) and an iridium microelectrode with a diameter 0.1 mm. The caries status of 544 proximal surfaces between two primary molars, in proximity at the plaque-pH sites, was assessed. All measurements were performed before and 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after a mouth rinse with water solution of sucrose (10%). One-way ANOVA was performed to analyse statistically significant differences between the two techniques. Instrument reliability was measured by assessing the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).
RESULTS: Comparable, not statistically significant pH values (p-values range from 0.98 to 1.00) were obtained by the two methods for AUC (area under curve )5.7, AUC6.2, maximum pH fall and minimum pH. High intraclass coefficients were recorded (Pearson's r = 0.96 and Yule's Q =0.99), implying an almost perfect association when the measurements were grouped as a carious lesion being present or not on the surface near the site of measurement.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of the pH strip method has high validity and may replace the traditional microtouch electrode technique for clinical use.

PMID: 28975774 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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