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Published on: April 29, 2014
Accuracy of scanography using storage phosphor plate systems and film for assessment of mandibular third molars
L H Matzen1, J Christensen, A Wenzel
1Louise Hauge Matzen, Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, Vennelyst Boulevard 9, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. louise.hauge.matzen@odontologi.au.dk
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of two digital photostimulable storage phosphor (PSP) systems and film for assessment of mandibular third molars before surgery.
Methods:
110 patients were referred to have both their mandibular third molars removed. Each patient underwent a radiographic examination with scanography using either Digora (Soredex, Helsinki, Finland) and film or VistaScan (Dürr Dental, Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany) and film in a randomized paired design. Two observers examined the following variables on the scanograms: bone coverage, angulation of the tooth in the bone, number of roots, root morphology and the relationship to the mandibular canal. In 75 of the pairs (Digora/film pair = 38 and Vista/film pair = 37) both third molars were eventually removed. During and after surgery the same variables were assessed, which served as reference standard for the radiographic assessments. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test tested differences in accuracy (radiographic compared with surgical findings) between Digora/film and between Vista/film.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference between the diagnostic accuracy of film and either of the two digital receptors for assessment of mandibular third molars before surgery (P > 0.05), although Digora obtained a higher accuracy than film.
Conclusions:
Scanography is a valuable method for examination of mandibular third molars before removal and the PSP digital receptors in this study were equal to film for this purpose.
