PERIODONTITIS DETECTION EFFICACY OF FILM AND DIGITAL IMAGES

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of alveolar crestal bone detection in a comparison of unenhanced and enh anced Sidexis (Siemens Medical Systems, inc., Bensheim, Germany) digit al images with Ektaspeed Plus (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y.) films b y means of receiver operating characteristic analysis. Study Design. M ore than 100 proximal and furcal areas in the anterior and posterior a reas of the mandible and maxilla of each of three tissue-equivalent hu man skull phantoms were imaged with film, direct digital images, and c ontrast- and brightness-enhanced digital images. Alveolar crest status was assessed by a consensus panel of three experts who used the Delph i method and evaluated information from ail of the imaging modalities concurrently. Five observers assessed all images for the presence or a bsence of crestal bone loss using a five-point confidence scale. Recei ver operating characteristic curves were generated, and calculated are as (A(Z)) were analyzed by means of analysis of variance.Results. The expert panel determined that of 106 crestal areas, 48 were disease fre e and 58 exhibited bone loss greater than 2 mm apical to the cemento-e namel junction. Analysis of variance of observer A, scores showed sign ificant differences among readers (p < 0.001) and among readings (p = 0.027), but not among modalities (p = 0.435). Mean A(Z) values for the different modalities were as follows: Sidexis, 0.70; enhanced Sidexis , 0.71; Ektaspeed Plus films, 0.735. Conclusion, The Sidexis digital i maging system was not significantly different from Ektaspeed Plus film for crestal bone evaluation in this in vitro study.