title: Technical report. Processing to achieve high-contrast images with computed dental radiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of equalization on image contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with Computed Dental Radiography (CDR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pixel value distributions were measured for various tissue thicknesses of a dental quality assurance jaw phantom and the average pixel values and SNR calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Equalization resulted in enhanced image contrast of underexposed images by effecting pixel value adjustment with little change in SNR. Overexposed images demonstrated minimal difference in contrast or SNR when equalization was applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The equalize function of CDR is a convenient method to provide high-contrast images from underexposed images without detriment to the SNR. As it does not compensate for overexposure, the function will not lead to inappropriate overdosage of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Farman
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Scarfe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroyanagi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation