Imaging Sci Dent.  2015 Sep;45(3):141-145. 10.5624/isd.2015.45.3.141.

The efficacy of the reverse contrast mode in digital radiography for the detection of proximal dentinal caries

• Miri S
• Mehralizadeh S
• Sadri D
• Motamedi M
• Soltani P

• KMID: 2045020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2015.45.3.141

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the reverse contrast mode in intraoral digital radiography for the detection of proximal dentinal caries, in comparison with the original digital radiographs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eighty extracted premolars with no clinically apparent caries were selected, and digital radiographs of them were taken separately in standard conditions. Four observers examined the original radiographs and the same radiographs in the reverse contrast mode with the goal of identifying proximal dentinal caries. Microscopic sections 5 microm in thickness were prepared from the teeth in the mesiodistal direction. Four slides prepared from each sample used as the diagnostic gold standard. The data were analyzed using SPSS (alpha=0.05).
RESULTS
Our results showed that the original radiographs in order to identify proximal dentinal caries had the following values for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy, respectively: 72.5%, 90%, 87.2%, 76.5%, and 80.9%. For the reverse contrast mode, however, the corresponding values were 63.1%, 89.4%, 87.1%, 73.5%, and 78.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of original digital radiograph for detecting proximal dentinal caries was significantly higher than that of reverse contrast mode (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found regarding specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, or accuracy (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The sensitivity of the original digital radiograph for detecting proximal dentinal caries was significantly higher than that of the reversed contrast images. However, no statistically significant differences were found between these techniques regarding specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, or accuracy.

Keyword

Radiography, Dental, Digital; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Image Enhancement; Dental Caries

MeSH Terms

Bicuspid
Dental Caries
Dentin*
Image Enhancement
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Radiographic Image Enhancement*
Radiography, Dental, Digital
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tooth

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A digital radiograph in the original mode (A) and reverse contrast mode (B).

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