title: Comparison of digital systems and conventional dental film for the detection of approximal enamel caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were (1) to compare the accuracy of the detection of approximal enamel caries lesions using three intraoral storage phosphor plate digital systems and one conventional film-based radiographic system; and (2) to determine whether there is a correlation between the histological and radiographic measurements of enamel caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  160 approximal surfaces were radiographed under standardized conditions using three storage phosphor stimulable systems (DenOptix and Digora FMX with white and blue plates), and one film system (Insight film). 17 observers scored the images for the presence and depth of caries using a 4-point scale. The presence of caries was validated histologically (gold standard). Two-way analysis of variance was used to test the differences in sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy (TP + TN). The data from the radiographic and histological measurements were statistically analysed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-way analysis of variance and the post hoc t-test demonstrated that Digora (white plate) had higher specificity and overall accuracy values than DenOptix (P = 0.021); there was no statistically significant difference among the other imaging modalities (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the histological depth measurements and the radiographic measurements from Digora (blue plate) (P = 0.43), Digora (white plate) (P = 0.15), DenOptix (P = 0.17) and Insight film (P = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that (1) the performance of the three storage phosphor image plate systems was similar to that of the Insight film for detection of approximal enamel caries, and (2) the increase in histological depth of enamel caries was not significantly correlated with radiographic measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Radiology, Pernambuco Dental School, Pernambuco University, UPE, Camamragibe, Recife, Brazil. pontual.andrea@gmail.com
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pontual
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Bóscolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haiter Neto
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014962:X-Ray Film