title: The use of a computer-based image analysis program for the diagnosis of approximal caries from bitewing radiographs.
abstract: Approximal surfaces of 13 extracted molar and premolar teeth were classified directly and radiographically as sound or decayed. Eleven faculty dentists examined bitewing radiographs of the teeth and responded on a 5-point certainty scale, whether caries was present. Ten other faculty dentists used a computer-based program to examine the radiographs. For sensitivity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and interexaminer agreement (Kappa), the computer-assisted faculty was significantly (p < 0.05) superior or equal to the unassisted faculty group.
authors.affiliation: Division of Computer Services, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Heaven
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weems
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Firestone
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008963:Molar; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity