A comparison of phosphor-plate digital images with conventional radiographs for the perceived clarity of fine endodontic files and periapical lesions

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 321 - 327
• Main Authors: Friedlander, Lara T., Love, Robert M., Chandler, Nicholas P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Louis, MO Mosby, Inc 01.03.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dental Instruments; Dental Pulp Cavity - diagnostic imaging; Dentistry; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Foreign Bodies - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Logistic Models; Medical sciences; Molar - diagnostic imaging; Non tumoral diseases; Observer Variation; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology. Orbit; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiography, Dental, Digital; Reproducibility of Results; Tooth Apex - diagnostic imaging; X-Ray Film; Human; Radiodiagnosis; Stomatology; Dental disease; Exploration; Molar tooth; Tooth root; Endodontic procedures; Technology; Surgery; Medical imagery; Lesion; Digital radiography; Panoramic radiography; Comparative study
• ISSN: 1079-2104; 1528-395X
• DOI: 10.1067/moe.2002.120802

Objective. We sought to compare digital images with radiographs for the perceived clarity of small endodontic file tips at 2 different working lengths, as well as for the visualization of periapical bone lesions. Study Design. Standardized conventional radiographic and phosphor-plate digital images were taken of 20 extracted permanent mandibular molars with 06 K-files placed in the distal root canal either 2 mm short or flush with the apical foramen. Similar images were obtained from mandibles with teeth that demonstrated large (n = 10) or small (n = 10) periapical lesions. Four evaluators ranked the clarity of the digital image with that of the radiograph. Results were analyzed by using the 2-sided sign test, ordinal logistic regression, and the κ test. Results. The perceived clarity of an endodontic file tip, at any position, and of a small or large periapical lesion was significantly (P <.01) less on all digital images compared with conventional films. Conclusion. Evaluator ratings indicated that the perceived clarity of fine endodontic files and periapical lesions was significantly less with phosphor-plate digital images than with conventional radiographs. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;93:321-7)