Evaluation of the efficacy of visual, tactile method, caries detector dye, and laser fluorescence in removal of dental caries and confirmation by culture and polymerase chain reaction: An in vivo study

Aim: To determine the degree of association between visual and tactile methods of caries removal compared with caries detector dye and laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent), which detects the degree of demineralization; to determine the presence of Streptococcus mutans via culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques; and to find a suitable method for caries removal.