Search

Background and Objectives: Recently, most digital imaging systems provide the option of image post-processing with different techniques. The aim of present study was to compare the performance of digital radiography with and without image processing filters in the detection of proximal recurrent caries. Subjects and Methods: In this in vitro study,amalgam class 2 cavities were prepared on both proximal surfaces of 52 healthy premolar teeth. Artificial caries lesions were made by a round 0.5 mm bur in mesial or distal of the boxes randomly. Standardized digital radiographs were acquired using the Digora® Optime system. Unfiltered and filtered (low sharpen, intermediate sharpen, high sharpen and inversion) images were assessed by 2 independent observers. Results:Sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy evaluated with sub curve analysis of ROC (Az), ANOVA/Tukey and Spearman rank correlation coefficient tests. The sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of the low sharpen, unfiltered images and inversion was significantly higher than intermediate sharpen and high sharpen filter images (p≤0.05). The low sharpen filter images had the highest sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy. The high sharpen filter images had the lowest sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy. Conclusion: The low sharpen filter may be an acceptable processing filter for the detection of proximal recurrent caries. The intermediate sharpen and high sharpen filters had the worst performance than the other modalities and can not be recommended for the detection of proximal recurrent caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Recently، most digital imaging systems provide the option of image post-processing with different techniques. This clinical study aims to compare these techniques on perception of anatomical structures and overall image quality in direct digital panoramic radiographs. Subjects and Methods: Panoramic radiographs were acquired from 45 patients. The original and the processed images using shadow، sharpen، sigmoidal or exponential، Negative and 3D embossed filters were assessed by 4 observers and scored for perception of the floor of maxillary sinus، dentino enamel junction، root canal space، periodontal ligament space، inferior mandibular cortex، bone trabecular pattern، inferior alveolar canal and overall image quality. The results were statistically analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon tests. Results: The best diagnostic quality in all anatomical structures and overall image quality was obtained using sharpen processing method. The negative filter earned the second place in floor of maxillary sinus، dentine -enamel junction and root canal space. The original images provided the second best diagnostic quality in periodontal ligament space، inferior mandibular cortex، bone trabecular pattern، inferior alveolar canal and overall image quality. Conclusions: To perceive the anatomical structures and overall image quality the sharpened image processing method is recommended. It should be noted that the processing techniques should be chosen carefully considering the anatomical structure that is being studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]