The assessment of adenosine triphosphate- (ATP-) driven bioluminescence tool for the rapid chairside caries risk determination and clinical researchs

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of CariScreen ATPmeter which is used to establish patients caries risk and to compare the CariScreen ATPmeter scores with the salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels and DMFS/dfs scores in children.A total of 100 children, were selected on the basis of previous caries experience, either zero DMFS or high DMFS(? 10) Then participants were distributed into three groups as primary, mixed and permanent dentition.CariScreen ATPmeter caries risk measurements were compared with salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels and DMFS/dfs scores.In primary and mixed dentition, there was no statistically significant differences in CariScreen ATPmeter measurements compared to both DMFS/dfs scores and mutans streptococcii levels. However in permanent dentition, significant statistical difference was found within the same groups. Due to DMFS/dfs scores, CariScreen ATPmeter had a sensitivity of 92% while the specificity was found to be 62%. When CariScreen ATPmeter measurements compared to mutans streptococcii levels the sensitivity was found to be 88%, the specificity was found to be 54%.There were no statisticaly significant differences between CariScreen ATPmeter measurements and lactobacilli levels. When CariScreen ATPmeter measurements compared to lactobacilli levels the sensitivity was found to be 89%, the specificity was found to be 62%.In primary dentition, CariScreen ATPmeter and caries risk experience correlations were found to be higher than the other dentition groups. CariScreen ATPmeter should be used in conjunction with other caries risk assessment instruments.