Comparison of clinician agreement during visualization of conventional and digitized bitewing radiographs

Digital technology is becoming more common in dental practices. Indirect digitization of radiographs can be an alternative to direct digital systems. This study was designed to evaluate intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-technique agreement of proximal caries diagnosis on bitewing radiographs before and after indirect digitization. Four bitewing radiographs were obtained from 50 dental students. Conventional films were digitized with a flatbed scanner at 150 and 300 dpi. Three observers recorded the presence and depth of caries on 1,642 proximal surfaces for the conventional and digitized radiographs. Radiographs were evaluated twice (one week apart), using each viewing technique. Intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-technique agreement (Kw) were determined. The intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-technique agreements of proximal caries diagnosis on bitewing radiographs before and after indirect digitization were moderate to good.