RADIOVISIOGRAPHY VERSUS CONVENTIONAL RADIOGRAPHY FOR DETECTION OF SMALL INSTRUMENTS IN ENDODONTIC LENGTH DETERMINATION .1. IN-VITRO EVALUATION

Radiovisiography is a new intraoral radiographic imaging system, In th is in vitro investigation, radiovisiography was compared with conventi onal radiographs viewed with x2 magnification. Twenty-five extracted m axillary molars were evaluated for clarity of size 8 and 10 endodontic file tips in relation to the radiographic apex. Five images of radiov isiography were compared with D-speed and E-speed radiographs: origina l, enhanced, negative-to-positive, standard zoom, and zoom in the nega tive-to-positive mode. D-speed radiographs were also compared with E-s peed radiographs, Zoom in the negative-to-positive mode was statistica lly equivalent to D-speed radiographs (p = 0.264) and superior to E-sp eed radiographs (p < 0.001), The standard zoom was also superior to E- speed radiographs (p = 0.025), D-speed radiographs were statistically superior to E-speed radiographs; being judged better than E-speed 90% of the time. Accurate identification of the position of the tips of si ze 8 and 10 files was achieved on all D- and E-speed radiographs with the use of magnification.