Purpose: Root fracture is a clinical problem which often is difficult to detect and diagnose. As the root fracture detection is based on demonstration of a fracture line or lines, radiographic examination is important. The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic efficacy of direct digital radiography with conventional radiography for detecting experimental root fractures.Materials & Methods: This study was based on observational diagnostic method which eighty one extracted single rooted human teeth were endodontically instrumented and divided into two groups, a control group of 40 teeth and a fractured group of 41 teeth in which root fractures were produced with Instron machine. Each tooth was imaged using the parallel technique with a CCD-based digital system and E-speed film. The images were interpreted by three experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologists without prior knowledge of the distribution of the root fractures. Three image groups were taken: conventional film, digital images and enhanced digital images. Sensitivity, specificity, false negative and false positive percentage, accuracy of each method in comparison with golden standard (visual examination of fractured and intact teeth) were analyzed. The degree of agreement in detecting root fractures with each imaging system compared with each other was expressed as the kappa value. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for root fractures in conventional radiography were 73.2%, 87.5% and 80.2% respectively, in direct digital radiography were 78%, 77.5% and 77.8% respectively and in enhanced direct digital radiography were 82.9%, 85% and 84% respectively. The most sensitive was enhanced direct digital radiography and the most specific was conventional radiography.There was fair to good agreement between conventional radiography and digital radiography (k=0.68), fair to good agreement between enhanced digital radiography and conventional radiography (k=0.73) and excellent agreement between digital radiography and enhanced digital radiography (k=0.90).Conclusions: The diagnostic efficacy of Conventional radiography, digital radiography and enhanced digital radiography in detecting root fractures was comparable with each other.

Background and Aim: Diagnosis of periapical pathology is of paramount importance in enabling the clinician to provide immediate and appropriate dental treatment. Both intraoral digital radiography and film radiography are used to detect periapical pathology. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of digital radiographic imaging with conventional radiography in detecting chemically created lesions.Materials and Methods: For conducting this experimental study one cow cadaver mandibular Jaw was used. After building four 1×1 cm2 pools at first molar areas, 35% Hydrochloric acid solution used to create chemically lesions. The designed time for chemically lesions was 4, 12, 24 and 36 hrs following acid exposure. Then, 1 digital and 1 conventional image with E-Speed film was taken from each half-jaw and images evaluated by five examiners. Wilcoxon signed Ranks test used for statistical analysis.Results: The results of this study showed that diagnosis were more precise in detecting lesions with RVG than conventional radiography. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: Regarding the acceptable quality of digital radiographs comparing to conventional radiographs we suggest using this method for detecting bone lesions.

Introduction: In addition to conventional radiography, several other techniques such as stereoradiography have so far been proposed to determine the position of impacted maxillary canines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of panoramic radiography and stereoradiography for determining the position of impacted maxillary canines.Materials and Methods: This was a prognostic, cross sectional study. A total of 30 impacted maxillary canines in 23 patients candidated for surgery were included. Four well coordinated observers separately determined the position of impacted maxillary canines using both panoramic radiography and stereoradiography. In the next phase, the exact position of impacted canines were determined through surgical exploration. Mc-Nemar and kappa index were applied for statistical data analysis. (a=0.05).Results: The rate of correct diagnosis in stereoradiography and conventional radiography was 93.35% and 60.82% respectively which demonstrated a statistically significant difference. With each method, there were no significant differences among observers. Sensitivity and specificity with stereoradiography were calculated 91.98% and 94.78% respectively. With conventional radiography however these values dropped to 49.90% and 74.11% respectively.Conclusion: Stereoradiography seems quite reliable for determining the position of impacted maxillary canines. On the contrary, conventional radiography per se does not look precise enogh to determin the position of impacted maxillary canines.

Background and Aim: Early diagnosis of bone pathologic lesions is of paramount importance in enabling the clinician to provide immediate and appropriate dental treatment. Conventional radiographs have always been used as the primary and fundamental means of diagnosis, treatment and follow up of endodontic lesions. In recent years, digital imaging has gained high popularity for diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of digital radiographic imaging compared to conventional radiography in detecting mechanically created jaw bone lesions.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on the lower jaw of a cow cadaver. Mechanical lesions with different depths (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5mm) were drilled into the jaw with a surgical bur (021). A digital radiograph followed by a conventional image with E-speed film were obtained and the images were evaluated by five examiners. Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test was used for statistical analysis.Results: According to the results of this study, examiners were more successful in detecting lesions with DDR than with conventional radiography. The mean value and standard deviation of detection score were 1.25 ± 0.98 for conventional and 1.85 ± 0.53 for digital methods. This difference was statistically significant. (P< 0.001).Conclusion: The adequacy of digital radiography in detection of bone lesions is much higher than conventional radiography. Digital images are recommended for diagnostic purposes.

Background and Aim: The detection of the teeth periapical lesions is associated with some problems clinically. As this diagnosis is based on the observation of radiolucent regions in the periapical area, the radiographic assessments of the lesions are important. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of conventional and digital subtraction radiography to improve the diagnostic ability of periapical lesions.Materials & Methods: Artificial bone lesions in the periapical region of 15 teeth were created. Conventional and digital radiography were taken of all specimens in four stages: preoperative and after lesion creation in cancellous bone by using No.2, No.6 and No.10 slow speed steel burs. Digital radiography images were exposed whereas the distance between x-ray source and CCD was 24 cm and position of tube, teeth and receptor was fixed. The data was analyzed by kappa statistics.Results: Diagnostic sensitivity in detection of lesion by conventional radiography and digital subtraction radiography by using bur No.2 were 34.5%, 71.4%, NO.6 were 54.7%, 95.2% and bur No.10 slow speed steel bur were 92.9%, 100% respectively.Conclusions: The digital subtraction radiography in comparison with conventional radiography had a higher diagnostic value in detection of periapical bone lesions.

Background and Aim: Digital subtraction Radiography (DSR) is a method of accurate assessing condylar head changes. several studies have been carried out in applying DSR in dentistry, however there is a few number of studies in efficacy of DSR method in assessment of condylar head changes, The aim of this study was to compare panoramic radiography and DSR detecting simulated lesions of the mandibular condyl.Materials and Methods: this was a process research study, in which two dry human skulls with no obvious temporomandibular joint pathology were used. Osteophytic lesions were simulated using three sizes of bone chips that were placed on the medial portion of anterior and superolateral aspects of the condyle. Osteolytic lesions were simulated making 1 and 2 mm holes using round burr in the central portion of anterior aspect and Lateral pole of the condyle. Panoramic radiographs were prepared with and without the lesions in place. These paired radiographs were digitized and digital- subtraction images of the original panoramic images were obtained. Eight observers evaluated 155 images of each modality for the presence or absence and the type of simulated lesions of the mandibular condyle. Sensitivity, specificity, reliability and measure of agreement were analyzed using kappa test and crossed tables and qualitative variables were assess by chi-square and fisher’s Exact test.Results: Specificity of panoramic and DSR methods were 15.4% and 66.7% respectively. Sensitivity of panoramic and DSR methods were 61.1% and 80.6% for osteophytic lesions and 37.5% and 83.3% for Osteolytic lesions. The percentage of correct decisions made in DSR method was significantly more than conventional panoramic method (82.6%vs 41.9%) (p<0.0001).Conclusion: Based on the results of this study digital subtraction technique was significantly more accurate than the panoramic radiographs in detection of simulated lesions of the mandibular condyle.

One of the major factors in a successful root canal therapy is the determination of root length before canal preparation. Radiography has been proved to be useful in this case, but nowadays for reducing radiation, radiovisiography has been recommended. The aim of this study was comparing conventional radiography (CR) with radiovisiography (RVG) in determination of canal length. 101 anterior and posterior extracted human teeth were selected. After mounting in unolit block, K- file (Num. 15) was placed in canal with tactile sense. Working length was measured by C.R and RVG. The results were analyzed by complete, randomized block design. RVG and CR showed shorter length than actual length. But, the measured lengths did not show significant statistical differences. As a result, considering the advantages of RVG, it is recommended in determining canal length.

Introduction: External root resorption (ERR) is associated with physiological and pathological dissolution of mineralized tissues by clastic cells and radiography is one of the most important methods in its diagnosis. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the accuracy of conventional intraoral radiography (CR) in comparison with digital radiographic techniques, i.e. charge-coupled device (CCD) and photo-stimulable phosphor (PSP) sensors, in detection of ERR. Methods and Materials: This study was performed on 80 extracted human mandibular premolars. After taking separate initial periapical radiographs with CR technique, CCD and PSP sensors, the artificial defects resembling ERR with variable sizes were created in apical half of the mesial, distal and buccal surfaces of the teeth. Ten teeth were used as control samples without any resorption. The radiographs were then repeated with 2 different exposure times and the images were observed by 3 observers. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 and chi-squared and Cohen’s Kappa tests with 95% confidence interval (CI=95%). Result: The CCD had the highest percentage of correct assessment compared to the CR and PSP sensors, although the difference was not significant (P=0.39). It was shown that the higher dosage of radiation increases the accuracy of diagnosis; however, it was only significant for CCD sensor (P=0.02). Also, the accuracy of diagnosis increased with the increase in the size of lesion (P=0.001). Conclusion: Statistically significant difference was not observed for accurate detection of ERR by conventional and digital radiographic techniques.