Prevalence and correlation of OXIS contacts using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images and photographs

Development of 'OXIS Classification' calibration website for dental researchers

PURPOSE

The variations in interproximal contact areas have been categorised open (O), point (X), straight (I), and curved contact (S). This is based on their shapes and termed as OXIS classification. The interactive OXIS calibration website was developed to assist researchers seeking appropriate knowledge, minimise the overload of material, optimise efficiency in calibration and, to provide repositories for clinicians, healthcare workers, and policymakers.

METHODS

The website was developed in two phases. The first phase of development included expert group discussion, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and the implementation of FGD recommendations. The second phase emphasised registration and development of the interactive web portal on OXIS classification. The developed website was subjected to user experience testing, functional testing, performance testing, security testing, device, platform testing, and then hosted. Calibrated students and faculties evaluated it with the help of Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Finally, after amendments, the website was evaluated by non-calibrated researchers and multidisciplinary experts.

RESULTS

The total agreement was 74% for overall SAM category. Pooled mean total score of SUS was 52.7 (SD 7.17; range 45-67.5), indicating an average score.

CONCLUSION

The content of the developed website has been evaluated as "satisfactory" and its technical quality as "of higher standards".

Variation of OXIS contact areas in primary molars among 3-6-year-old children with intraoral digital scanning

PURPOSE

To determine the variation of OXIS contact areas in primary molars using digital impressions generated from an intraoral scanner (IOS).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 214 caries-free posterior quadrants of 80 children (38 males and 42 females) aged 3-6 years. Calibration of taking digital impressions with the IOS procedure was performed initially through scanning of ten quadrants of children to provide a learning environment to the examiner. The digital impressions were then exported, and the type of interproximal contact areas present between the distal surface of the primary first molar and the mesial surface of the primary second molar were identified according to the OXIS classification. The prevalence of the types of OXIS contact areas was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. The chi-square test was applied to investigate the variability among the arches and to understand the association of OXIS contact areas across age, gender, and arches.

RESULTS

The most common contact area type observed was I-type (59.8%), followed by S-type (15.4%), X-type (12.6%), and O-type (12.2%). The I-type contact area was most frequently seen in both males (51.6%) and females (65.5%), while the S-type contact area in males (14.7%) and X-type contact area in females (8.4% each) were the least frequent with no statistical significance between genders (p > 0.05). All three age groups studied showed the highest prevalence of the I-type contact area, which increased with an increase in age (p < 0.05). The inter-arch comparison showed a significant result in terms of the X-type contact area on the right side, and O-type, X-type, and I-type contact areas on the left side, while no statistical difference was seen in the intra-arch comparison for all contact types.

CONCLUSION

I-type contact areas were the most prevalent across the arches, age groups and genders.

Assessment of OXIS contacts-a comparison of three methods

PURPOSE

To compare OXIS contacts by means of Replication using Sectional die Models (RSM) and Photographs of the Models (PM) with Direct Clinical Examination (DCE) in a sample of preschool children aged 3-4 years.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using existing records of sectional die models and their photographs among 4257 contacts of 1104 caries-free pre-school children. Two calibrated examiners scored the contacts between the distal surface of the primary first molar and mesial surface of the primary second molar using OXIS criteria from the occlusal view using the RSM & PM methods. These were compared to the OXIS scores from DCE method which was available from previous records. Kappa agreement was used to compare results obtained RSM and PM methods with DCE.

RESULTS

The kappa agreement between the RSM and DCE methods was 98.48%; and between the PM and DCE methods was 99.42%, both of which indicated perfect agreement.

CONCLUSION

The RSM and PM methods were found to have an excellent agreement in scoring OXIS contacts when compared to the DCE method. PM was found to be slightly more accurate than the RSM method for scoring OXIS contacts.

Interproximal contact areas of primary molars based on OXIS classification - a two centre cross sectional study

Background: Contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter and situated farther gingivally than permanent teeth. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of OXIS contact areas between primary molars using die models of children from two different ethnic populations. The research question of the present study is "What is the prevalence OXIS contact areas of primary molars in the populations studied?". Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned in a representative sample of 200 caries-free contact areas among children aged 3-6 years in two centers, Ajman and Puducherry. Data collection was performed from sectional or full-arch die stone models. The contacts were assessed according to OXIS classification by a single calibrated examiner at Center 2. Prevalence was expressed as numbers and percentages. The Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of OXIS contacts across genders and arches. Results: The prevalence of O, X, I, and S contacts were 19%, 22.5%, 53%, and 5.5% in Center 1 and 6%, 1.5%, 75.5%, and 17% in Center 2, respectively. Significant results (p=0.005) were obtained in Center 1 when inter-arch comparison was performed and between the centers with respect to type of contact. No significant difference was obtained with respect to gender and OXIS contact areas. Conclusions: The present study confirmed OXIS contacts in both the centers. The 'O' and 'X' types of contacts were observed more in Center 1, whereas 'I' and 'S' contacts were observed more in Center 2.

OXIS contact areas of primary molars - a two center cross-sectional study

Background: Contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter and situated farther gingivally than permanent teeth. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of OXIS contact areas between primary molars using die models of children from two different ethnic populations. The research question of the present study is "What is the prevalence OXIS contact areas of primary molars in the populations studied?". Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned in a representative sample of 200 caries-free contact areas among children aged 3-6 years in two centers, Ajman and Puducherry. Data collection was performed from sectional or full-arch die stone models. The contacts were assessed according to OXIS classification by a single calibrated examiner at Center 2. Prevalence was expressed as numbers and percentages. The Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of OXIS contacts across genders and arches. Results: The prevalence of O, X, I, and S contacts were 19%, 22.5%, 53%, and 5.5% in Center 1 and 6%, 1.5%, 75.5%, and 17% in Center 2, respectively. Significant results (p=0.005) were obtained in Center 1 when inter-arch comparison was performed and between the centers with respect to type of contact. No significant difference was obtained with respect to gender and OXIS contact areas. Conclusions: The present study confirmed OXIS contacts in both the centers. The 'O' and 'X' types of contacts were observed more in Center 1, whereas 'I' and 'S' contacts were observed more in Center 2.