Detection of approximal caries with a storage phosphor system. A comparison of enhanced digital images with dental X-ray film.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy of approximal caries detection using enhanced and unenhanced storage phosphor images and dental X-ray film.


METHODS
Fifty premolar/molar teeth were exposed simultaneously under standardized conditions on storage phosphor (SP) image plates (Digora) and Ektaspeed film. The image files were transferred to a different platform for image processing. Using a five-point confidence scale, ten observers rated 95 approximal surfaces for caries in enamel and dentin with three image modalities: enhanced and unenhanced SP images and film. The observations were validated microscopically. Diagnostic accuracy was measured as the area beneath the ROC curve (Az).


RESULTS
Enhanced SP images had significantly higher Az values in both enamel (Az = 0.819) and dentin (Az = 0.845) than unenhanced images and film. No significant differences were found in either enamel or dentin between unenhanced SP images (Az = 0.780 and Az = 0.789) and film (Az = 0.688 and Az = 0.793).


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancement of storage phosphor images improved detection of approximal caries in this in vitro study compared with unenhanced images and Ektaspeed film.
Møystad
A
A
Department of Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
Svanaes
D B
DB
Risnes
S
S
Larheim
T A
TA
Gröndahl
H G
HG
D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D014962:X-Ray Film; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens