DMFR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Scaf, G
Right arrow Articles by Wenzel, A
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Scaf, G
Right arrow Articles by Wenzel, A
Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2006) 35, 422-425
© 2006 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/dmfr/61300663

RESEARCH

Comparison of simulated periodontal bone defect depth measured in digital radiographs in dedicated and non-dedicated software systems

G Scaf*,1, CE Sakakura1, PFD Kalil1, JAN Dearo de Morais1, LCM Loffredo2 and A Wenzel3

1 Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery, Araraquara Dental School, State of São Paulo University, Unesp, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil; 2 Department of Social Dentistry, Araraquara Dental School, State of São Paulo University, Unesp, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil; 3 Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark

*Correspondence to: Dr. Gulnara Scaf, Rua Humaitá, 1680, 14801-903, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil; Email: scaf{at}foar.unesp.br

Received 8 August 2005; revised 19 December 2005; accepted 28 December 2005

Objectives: To compare simulated periodontal bone defect depth measured in digital radiographs with dedicated and non-dedicated software systems and to compare the depth measurements from each program with the measurements in dry mandibles.

Methods: Forty periodontal bone defects were created at the proximal area of the first premolar in dry pig mandibles. Measurements of the defects were performed with a periodontal probe in the dry mandible. Periapical digital radiographs of the defects were recorded using the Schick sensor in a standardized exposure setting. All images were read using a Schick dedicated software system (CDR DICOM for Windows v.3.5), and three commonly available non-dedicated software systems (Vix Win 2000 v.1.2; Adobe Photoshop 7.0 and Image Tool 3.0). The defects were measured three times in each image and a consensus was reached among three examiners using the four software systems. The difference between the radiographic measurements was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and by comparing the measurements from each software system with the dry mandibles measurements using Student's t-test.

Results: The mean values of the bone defects measured in the radiographs were 5.07 mm, 5.06 mm, 5.01 mm and 5.11 mm for CDR Digital Image and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) for Windows, Vix Win, Adobe Photoshop, and Image Tool, respectively, and 6.67 mm for the dry mandible. The means of the measurements performed in the four software systems were not significantly different, ANOVA (P=0.958). A significant underestimation of defect depth was obtained when we compared the mean depths from each software system with the dry mandible measurements (t-test; P{cong}0.000).

Conclusions: The periodontal bone defect measurements in dedicated and in three non-dedicated software systems were not significantly different, but they all underestimated the measurements when compared with the measurements obtained in the dry mandibles.

Keywords: digital radiography; alveolar bone loss; measurement






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING ALL BIR JOURNALS
Copyright © 2006 by the British Institute of Radiology.