Biomaterial Database

A comparison of conventional intra-oral radiography and computer imaging techniques for the detection of proximal surface dental caries. 1992

S B Dove, and W D McDavid

University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.

The detection of proximal surface caries by the visual interpretation of bitewing radiographs is known to be relatively inaccurate. The present study was designed to examine whether computer image processing could improve the diagnostic accuracy. A computer-aided, software-driven, TV-based system was used to digitize conventional radiographs and digitally process the images using histogram equalization and grey-scale inversion to enhance the images. The computer-enhanced images were compared with conventional intra-oral radiographs for the detection of proximal surface caries using receiver operating characteristic analysis. The results indicate that the digital image processing techniques used did not improve the diagnostic accuracy of dental radiographs. No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy could be detected between the non-enhanced digital images and conventional film-based images for the detection of proximal surface caries.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011856	Radiographic Image Enhancement	Improvement in the quality of an x-ray image by use of an intensifying screen, tube, or filter and by optimum exposure techniques. Digital processing methods are often employed.	Digital Radiography,Image Enhancement, Radiographic,Radiography, Digital,Enhancement, Radiographic Image,Enhancements, Radiographic Image,Image Enhancements, Radiographic,Radiographic Image Enhancements
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012372	ROC Curve	A graphic means for assessing the ability of a screening test to discriminate between healthy and diseased persons; may also be used in other studies, e.g., distinguishing stimuli responses as to a faint stimuli or nonstimuli.	ROC Analysis,Receiver Operating Characteristic,Analysis, ROC,Analyses, ROC,Characteristic, Receiver Operating,Characteristics, Receiver Operating,Curve, ROC,Curves, ROC,ROC Analyses,ROC Curves,Receiver Operating Characteristics
D016013	Likelihood Functions	Functions constructed from a statistical model and a set of observed data which give the probability of that data for various values of the unknown model parameters. Those parameter values that maximize the probability are the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters.	Likelihood Ratio Test,Maximum Likelihood Estimates,Estimate, Maximum Likelihood,Estimates, Maximum Likelihood,Function, Likelihood,Functions, Likelihood,Likelihood Function,Maximum Likelihood Estimate,Test, Likelihood Ratio
D016300	Radiography, Bitewing	Technique involving the passage of X-rays through oral structures to create a film record while a central tab or wing of dental X-ray film is being held between upper and lower teeth.	Bitewing Radiography,Bitewing Radiographies,Radiographies, Bitewing