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Published on: April 29, 2014
In vitro comparison of conventional film and direct digital imaging in the detection of approximal caries
V M Castro1, J O Katz, P K Hardman
1Department of Oral Biology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry, 650 E. 25 Street, Kansas City, MO 64108-2784, USA. castrov@umkc.edu
Objectives:
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional film, unenhanced direct digital and inversion grayscale direct digital imaging in the detection of approximal caries.
Methods:
150 approximal surfaces of extracted permanent molars and premolars were selected for the study on the basis of varying lesion depth. The teeth were radiographed using Ektaspeed Plus film; digital images were made with a Schick CMOS-APS sensor. 7 examiners evaluated 58 randomized images of each modality. Histological sectioning of the teeth was used to verify the presence and extent of decay.
Results:
No significant difference was found between the diagnostic accuracies of the three imaging modalities (P=0.226). Analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the three modalities on lesion depth showed no statistically significant interaction; however, the main effect of the lesion depth was significant (P<0.001, eta(2)=0.936).
Conclusions:
The overall diagnostic accuracy of the three modalities in the detection of approximal carious lesions was comparable. All three modalities performed poorly in the detection of enamel lesions.
