The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the influence of examiners' clinical experience on the reproducibility and validity of radiographic examination in detecting occlusal caries lesions.Double standardized bitewing radiographs were obtained from 160 permanent molars.Occlusal surfaces were photographed and one occlusal site per tooth was visually chosen.Radiographic examination was performed by last-year dental students from 2 universities (A, n = 5; B, n = 5) and by dentists with 5-7 years' experience working in different countries (C, n = 5; D, n = 5).All examinations were repeated (one-week interval).The teeth were histologically prepared and assessed for caries extension.Unweighted Cohen's Kappa for intra-examiner reproducibilities were: A (0.11-0.40);B (0.12-0.33);C (0.47-0.58);D (0.42-0.71).Inter-examiner reproducibilities (mean unweighted Cohen's Kappa 8 SD) were: A (0.07 8 0.05); B (0.12 8 0.09); C (0.24 8 0.08); D (0.33 8 0.10).Only the difference between Groups A and B was not statistically significant (Student's t test; ␣ = 0.05).Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated at D 3 threshold and compared (McNemar test, ␣ = 0.05).Specificity was high (0.92-1.00) for all groups, with no statistically significant difference between the groups of dentists (C and D).Sensitivity was low (0.03-0.13) with a statistically significant difference for group B. Accuracy was similar for all groups (0.55).Spearman correlations were: A, 0.12; B, 0.24; C, 0.30; D, 0.39.In conclusion, the reproducibility of radiographic examination, as well as the validity in detecting dentine occlusal caries, was influenced by the examiners' clinical experience.