title: Accuracy of Digital Bitewing Radiography versus Different Views of Digital Panoramic Radiography for Detection of Proximal Caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dental caries are common and have a high incidence among populations. Radiographs are essential for detecting proximal caries. The best technique should be recognized for accurate detection of caries. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of detection of proximal caries using intraoral bitewing, extraoral bitewing, improved interproximal panoramic, improved orthogonality panoramic and conventional panoramic radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive cross sectional study, 100 extracted human teeth with and without proximal caries were used. Intra and extraoral radiographs were taken. Images were evaluated and scored by two observers. Scores were compared with the histological gold standard. The diagnostic accuracy of radiographs was assessed by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (P<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopic evaluation of proximal surfaces revealed that 54.8% of the surfaces were sound and 45.2% were carious (with different depths). The differences in the area under the ROC curve (Az value) among the five techniques were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved interproximal panoramic and extraoral bitewing radiographs were superior to conventional panoramic radiography for detection of proximal caries ex vivo and should be considered for patients with contraindications for intraoral radiographs.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Dental Implants Research Center, Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdinian
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Torabinejad Dental Research Center and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sayed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reyhaneh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faghihian
authors.affiliation: Dentist, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Abbas
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Samety
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faghihian
keywords: Dental Caries; Radiography, Bitewing; Radiography, Panoramic