DIAGNOSTIC-ACCURACY OF DIRECT DIGITAL DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF PERIAPICAL BONE-LESIONS - OVERALL COMPARISON BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND DIRECT DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY

Objectives. The diagnostic accuracy of direct digital radiography for the detection of small, experimentally made, periapical lesions was co mpared with that of E-speed film. The high- and low-contrast resolutio ns of the imaging systems were also compared. Study design. The high-c ontrast resolution was evaluated with a line-pair plate. The low-contr ast resolution was determined with a contrast-detail plexiglass phanto m. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, the periapical region of dry h uman mandibles was examined. Receiver operating characteristic based o n the readings of seven observers were generated. Results. The high-co ntrast resolution of the digital system was inferior, but the low-cont rast resolution was comparable to that of E-speed film. For diagnostic accuracy no significant difference was seen between the areas under t he receiver operating characteristic curves. Conclusions. The quality of the direct digital images is comparable to that of E-speed film for the detection of periapical bone lesions.