Radiographic spatial frequencies essential to the diagnosis of incipient interproximal lesions

The effects of fixed pattern noise on the interpretation of dental radiographs containing known lesions suggest that reliable detection of incipient interproximal caries is influenced by the spatial frequency of information visibly displayed. Frequencies less than the limiting resolution of existinta also permit demonstration that significantly less resolution is required horizontally than vertically to achieve a criterion level of diagnostic accuracy. These findings are consistent with the notion that accurate diagnosis may be possible with less resolution than is currently produced by conventional bitewing radiographic techniques. If this is trut means for radiographically detecting caries can be developed that require less exposure of the patient to ionizing radiation.