title: Comparison of radiographic measurements obtained with conventional and indirect digital imaging during endodontic treatment.
abstract: The aims of this study were to evaluate the quality of indirect digitized radiographic images taken during endodontic procedures and to compare the measurements recorded with this technique to those obtained from conventional radiographs. Two-hundred conventional periapical radiographs taken at the undergraduate Endodontics Clinic of the Dental School of Bauru were digitized. The conventional and indirect digitized images were compared by three examiners as to the quality and accuracy of the measurements recorded during endodontic treatment, in canal length determination, gutta-percha adaptation, lateral condensation and final obturation. The conventional radiographs were observed on a film viewer, surrounded by a dark card, and measured with magnifying glass and a millimeter ruler; the indirect digitized images were evaluated on the Digora for Windows software, with free utilization of the bright/contrast tool. Unlike the conventional radiographic images, all indirect digitized images were considered as having a high quality. The distance between the filling material and the root apex was 0.117 mm larger, on average, for the Digora system (p<0.01). The measurements achieved by the investigated radiographic methods were clinically similar and they are thus equivalent. Changes in brightness and contrast of the images using Digora software improved the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ligia Buloto
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Schmitd
authors.forename: Tatiana de Castro
authors.initials: Tde C
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Montenegro
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Chinellato
authors.forename: Clóvis Monteiro
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bramante
authors.forename: Roberto Brandão
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Ivaldo Gomes
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Norberti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernardineli
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000379:methods; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012984:Software; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014962:X-Ray Film
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha