The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of periapical radiographs and their digitized images for the detection of simulated interproximal carious lesions. A total of 240 interproximal surfaces were used in this study. The
case
sample was composed of 80 anterior teeth, 80 bicuspids and 80 molars which were prepared in order to distribute the surfaces from carious free to those containing simulated carious lesions of varying depth(0.5mm, 0.8mm, and 1.2mm). The periapical
radiographs were taken by paralleling technique and films used were Kodak Ektaspeed (E group). All radiographs were evaluated by five dentists to recognize the true status of simulated carious lesion. They were asked to give a score of 0, 1, 2,
or
3.
Digitized images were obtained using a commercial video processor (FOTOVLX II-XS). And the computer system was 486 DX PC with PCVision and frame grabber. The 17″display monitor had a resolution of 1280×1024 pixels(0.26 mm dot pitch). But the
one
frame
of the intraoral radiograph has a resolution of 700×480 pixels and each pixel has a grey level value of 256. All the radiographs and digital images were viewed under uniform subdued lighting in the same reading room. After a week the second
interpretation was performed in the same condition.
The detection of lesions on the monitor was compared with the findings of simulated interproximal carious lesions on the film images.
@ES The results were as follows:
@EN I. When the scoring criteria was dichotomous:
lesion present and not present
1. The overall sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of periapical radiographs and their digital images showed no statistically significant difference.
2. The sensitivity and specificity according to the region of teeth and the grade of lesions showed no statistically significant difference between periapical ratiographs and their digital images.
II. When estimate the grade of lesions:
score 0, 1, 2, 3
1. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 53.3% on the intraoral films and 52.9% on digital images. There was no significant difference.
2. The diagnostic accuracy according to the region of teeth showed no statistically significant difference between periapical radiograp-hs and their digital image.
III. The degree of agreement and reliability
1. Using gamma value to show the degree of agreement, there was similarity between periapical films and digital images.
2. The reliability of each twice interpretation of periapical films and digital images showed no statistically significant difference.
In all cases P value was greater than 0.05, showing that both techniques can be used to detected the incipient and moderate interproximal carious lesion with similar accuracy.
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