title: A comparison of panoramic image quality between a digital radiography storage phosphor system and a film-based system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare digital panoramic images acquired for the presurgical assessment of third molars captured with a storage phosphor-based system with conventional film panoramic radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 51 pairs of digital and conventional panoramic images, made simultaneously, were included in this study. The images were evaluated for diagnostic quality prior to third molar surgery by two experienced oral surgeons and rated with a four-point grading scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the fact that conventional panoramic images were rated higher than the digital images, the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional and digital panoramic images were found to be of comparable image quality with regard to their diagnostic contribution to third molar surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is contributory to understanding differences in image quality between digital and conventional panoramic radiography for certain diagnostic tasks. The lack of significant differences in image quality may be an endorsement for digital panoramic radiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Implantology and Roentgenology, Aristotle University, School of Dentistry, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelopoulos
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantegari
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karamanis
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsirlis
mesh_terms: D017609:Barium Compounds; D005063:Europium; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014962:X-Ray Film; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds; D005063:Europium; C034762:barium fluorochloride europium