Evaluation of Contrast Alternation Efficacy in Diagnosis of Vertical Root Fracture in Conventional Digital Radiography (An Ex-vivo Study)

Most digital imaging systems today offer a variety of image processing techniques. Due to the importance of the accuracy of this imaging and its widespread use in this study we investigate the effect of contrast change in the diagnosis of vertical root fracture in conventional digital radiography.

In this in vitro study 24 human single-rooted teeth induced vertical root fracture with underwent variable refrigerant flow (Vrf). Digital images were prepared before and after inductionvrf. Images with three low, medium and high contrasts were examined by two radiologists.Data were tested using kappa and MacNemar tests in SPSS software. Overall accuracy was calculated using Roc curve analyzes.

The highest sensitivity specificity and overall accuracy are related to images with moderate contrast (95.83%, 100% and 98% in the first observer and 100%, 100% and 100% in the second observer, respectively). In cases of low and high contrast to detect vertical root fracture, there is no statistically significant difference with reality (P<0/001).

Medium contrast can be used as a processing filter in the detection of vertical root fractures.