title: A comparison of phosphor-plate digital images with conventional radiographs for the perceived clarity of fine endodontic files and periapical lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to compare digital images with radiographs for the perceived clarity of small endodontic file tips at 2 different working lengths, as well as for the visualization of periapical bone lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized conventional radiographic and phosphor-plate digital images were taken of 20 extracted permanent mandibular molars with 06 K-files placed in the distal root canal either 2 mm short or flush with the apical foramen. Similar images were obtained from mandibles with teeth that demonstrated large (n = 10) or small (n = 10) periapical lesions. Four evaluators ranked the clarity of the digital image with that of the radiograph. Results were analyzed by using the 2-sided sign test, ordinal logistic regression, and the kappa test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perceived clarity of an endodontic file tip, at any position, and of a small or large periapical lesion was significantly (P < .01) less on all digital images compared with conventional films.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluator ratings indicated that the perceived clarity of fine endodontic files and periapical lesions was significantly less with phosphor-plate digital images than with conventional radiographs.
authors.affiliation: University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lara T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Chandler
mesh_terms: D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014962:X-Ray Film