Comparison between intraoral indirect and conventional film-based imaging for the detection of dental root fractures: anex vivostudy

Influence of radiographic acquisition methods and visualization software programs on the detection of misfits at the implant-abutment interface: An ex vivo study

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Misfits at the implant-prosthesis interface may compromise implant-supported prostheses. Periapical radiographs are frequently used to detect misfit and can be obtained by using digital or film-based systems; however, which radiographic acquisition method and visualization software program provides the greatest accuracy is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the influence of 3 radiographic acquisition methods (complementary metal oxide semiconductor [CMOS] sensor, phosphor plates, and radiographic films) and 2 visualization software programs (proprietary and third-party) on the detection of misfits at the implant-prosthesis interface.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-two dental implants were placed in dry human mandibles. Misfits were simulated by inserting a 50-μm polyester strip at the implant-prosthesis interface; prosthetic crowns installed directly over the implant platforms were considered as controls. Standard parallel periapical radiographs were obtained by using a CMOS sensor, a phosphor plate, and radiographic films. Five dentists assessed the digital radiographs for the presence or absence of misfits at the implant-prosthesis interface by using the proprietary software program and a third-party software program; film-based radiographs were evaluated on a light box. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (Az values) were compared (α=.05); sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values were also estimated.

RESULTS

All diagnostic and Az values were higher for the phosphor plate than for the CMOS sensor and the film-based methods (P<.05), regardless of the viewing software program used (proprietary or third-party) (P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of phosphor plates positively influenced the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of misfits at the implant-prosthesis interface, irrespective of the viewing software program used.

Accuracy of dental calculus detection using digital radiography and image manipulation

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine if image enhancement improves a clinician's ability to identify the presence of calculus on digital radiographs.

METHODS

Seventy-one hopeless teeth were collected from 34 patients. Teeth were stained with 1% methylene blue, the largest interproximal calculus deposit was scored, and photographs of each interproximal root surface were taken. The surface area of calculus deposit was determined as a percentage of the total interproximal root surface area. Digital radiographs of teeth taken before extraction were modified using the following enhancements: auto-contrast, emboss, invert, and sharpen. Radiographic presence of calculus was determined by two examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each examiner and enhancement. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare differences between the image enhancements in the detection of dental calculus. The kappa statistic was used to compare ratings between examiners.

RESULTS

None of the enhanced images were statistically superior to original images in identifying radiographic calculus (P > 0.05). The average sensitivity of digital radiography was 50%, average specificity was 82.2%, PPV was 94%, and NPV 23.2%. A threshold of >30% of interproximal root surface covered with calculus and increasing size of deposits were associated with improved detection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital enhancements do not significantly improve radiographic detection of dental calculus. As area of calculus on the root surface and size of calculus deposits increased, sensitivity of detection also increased.

Effect of digital enhancement on the radiographic assessment of vertical root fractures in the presence of different intracanal materials: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of enhancement tools of intraoral digital radiographs on the assessment of vertical root fracture (VRF) and to quantify the resultant image noise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty single-rooted human teeth (15 control and 15 fractured) were each radiographed in four intracanal conditions: no filling, gutta-percha, metal post, and fiberglass post, totaling 120 original images. Two filters were applied to the original images-Sharpen filter (SF) and Edge Enhancement filter (EE), and brightness and contrast were adjusted in four combinations (B&C1 to 4), resulting in 840 images. Five oral radiologists analyzed the images for VRF detection. Pixel intensity was obtained in two regions from the radiographs. Diagnostic values were calculated and compared by two-way ANOVA, and the SD values of pixel intensity values were compared by one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in accuracy for VRF detection between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). Teeth with metal post presented the lowest sensitivity (p < 0.05) for all experimental conditions, except for SF and EE (p > 0.05). B&C2, B&C3, and B&C4 had higher specificity than SF (p ≤ 0.05) for all intracanal conditions. Analysis of pixel intensity showed that all enhanced images presented statistically significant higher noise compared to those of the original images (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Digital enhancement tools in digital radiography increase image noise; however, they can be used without compromising VRF detection.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The use of digital enhancement does not impair the detection of VRF and, therefore, can be applied for this purpose according to the observer preference.

Diagnosis of acute dental trauma: the importance of standardized documentation: a review

In 1985 Andreasen and Andreasen published a paper on the diagnosis of luxation injuries and outlined the importance of standardized clinical, radiographic, and photographic techniques. Now 30 years later, these recommendations remain current in the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines for the management of dental trauma and describe circumstances surrounding the time of injury, the extent of trauma (e.g., type of luxation injury), healing potential (e.g., stage of root development) as well as information concerning subsequent treatment. The purpose of this review was to include findings for other types of trauma and to discuss more recent studies that augment and/or improve on the original findings from 30 years ago. The present review discusses the use of a standardized clinical registration (pulpal sensibility testing, laser Doppler flowmetry, mobility testing), radiographic survey, and photographic registration of the traumatized patient. Moreover, the value of digital radiographs and recent developments in computer tomography with respect to possible enhancement of the trauma diagnosis are discussed.

Detection of horizontal root fracture using four different protocols of cone-beam computed tomography

The purpose of this study was to analyze four different cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) protocols to identify horizontal root fractures (HRF) in endodontically treated teeth, with or without the presence of a metallic post. Thirty extracted single-rooted human premolars were treated endodontically. Afterwards, an observer induced a horizontal fracture in 15 teeth. Each tooth was inserted in an empty mandibular socket and submitted to a computed tomography scan taken with and without the metallic post. The acquisition followed four different protocols, with different fields of view (FOV) and voxel sizes, as follows: FOV 6 X 16 cm/0.2 mm voxel; FOV 6 X 16 cm/0.25 mm voxel; FOV 8 X 8 cm/0.2 mm voxel; FOV 8 X 8 cm/0.25 mm voxel. Two observers checked all the acquisitions within a two-week interval, and the values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and kappa were calculated. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values were better for the 8 X 8 cm/0.2 mm and 16 X 6 cm/0.25 mm protocols, ranging from 0.60 to 0.86 and 0.53 to 0.80, respectively. The intra- and interobserver concordance ranged from 0.65 to 0.72. The protocols where FOV and voxel were proportional showed better results. The 8 x 8 cm/0.2 mm protocol had the least interference from the metallic artifact. All four protocols showed a decline in values in the presence of the metallic artifact.

The 'Sharpen' filter improves the radiographic detection of vertical root fractures

AIM

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of digital enhancement filters in the diagnosis of vertical root fractures.

METHODOLOGY

The sample consisted of 40 single-rooted teeth randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. Vertical root fractures were induced in the experimental group using a universal testing machine. All teeth were individually radiographed with three different horizontal angles using the Digora Optime(®) digital system. Three observers separately examined the original and filtered images (3D Emboss, Negative, Sharpen and Shadow). The area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve values (Az) for each protocol were compared by one-way anova with post hoc Bonferroni test. The significance level was set at 5%.

RESULTS

The highest Az value was obtained using the Sharpen filter, with significant differences from the original and other filtered images (P < 0.05). The 3D Emboss filter had the lowest Az value, which was significantly different from the other filtered images (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

When using the Digora Optime(®) system, the 'Sharpen' filter is recommended to improve the radiographic detection of vertical root fractures.