Imaging Sci Dent.  2012 Dec;42(4):243-247. 10.5624/isd.2012.42.4.243.

Measurements of simulated periodontal bone defects in inverted digital image and film-based radiograph: an in vitro study

• de Molon R
• Morais-Camillo JAND
• Sakakura C
• Ferreira M
• Loffredo L
• Scaf G

• KMID: 1806791
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2012.42.4.243

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to compare the inverted digital images and film-based images of dry pig mandibles to measure the periodontal bone defect depth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty 2-wall bone defects were made in the proximal region of the premolar in the dry pig mandibles. The digital and conventional radiographs were taken using a Schick sensor and Kodak F-speed intraoral film. Image manipulation (inversion) was performed using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. Four trained examiners made all of the radiographic measurements in millimeters a total of three times from the cementoenamel junction to the most apical extension of the bone loss with both types of images: inverted digital and film. The measurements were also made in dry mandibles using a periodontal probe and digital caliper. The Student's t-test was used to compare the depth measurements obtained from the two types of images and direct visual measurement in the dry mandibles. A significance level of 0.05 for a 95% confidence interval was used for each comparison.
RESULTS
There was a significant difference between depth measurements in the inverted digital images and direct visual measurements (p>|t|=0.0039), with means of 6.29 mm (IC95%:6.04-6.54) and 6.79 mm (IC95%:6.45-7.11), respectively. There was a non-significant difference between the film-based radiographs and direct visual measurements (p>|t|=0.4950), with means of 6.64mm(IC95%:6.40-6.89) and 6.79mm(IC95%:6.45-7.11), respectively.
CONCLUSION
The periodontal bone defect measurements in the inverted digital images were inferior to film-based radiographs, underestimating the amount of bone loss.

Keyword

Digital Radiography, Dental; Radiographic Image Enhancement; Alveolar Bone Loss

MeSH Terms

Alveolar Bone Loss
Bicuspid
Mandible
Radiographic Image Enhancement
Radiography, Dental, Digital
Tooth Cervix

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A. Film-based image shows the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the deepest region of the defect. B. Inverted digital image shows the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the deepest region of the defect.

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  Fig. 2 Direct bone-defect measurement in a dry pig mandible.

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  Fig. 3 Mean (m) and 95% confidence limits (LS: upper limit; LI: lower limit) of the bone defect depth (in mm) according to the method (M: direct visual measurements; D: inverted digital image).

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  Fig. 4 Mean (m) and 95% confidence limits (LS: upper limit; LI: lower limit) of the bone defect depth (in mm) according to the method (M: direct visual measurements; C: film-based image).

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