Accuracy of Digital Subtraction Radiography in the Detection of Vertical Root Fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of digital subtraction radiography in the diagnosis of vertical root fractures (VRFs). METHODS: Twenty decoronated uniradicular human teeth were placed in the alveoli of a dry mandible and radiographed twice, first without (unfilled roots) and then with (filled roots) a gutta-percha cone placed into the root canal. Roots were then removed from the dry mandible, and vertical fractures were created with the aid of a universal testing machine. The fractured roots were repositioned in the mandibular alveoli and again radiographed twice. Radiographic images were subtracted by using the Regeemy software in 3 test situations: group 1, initial radiographic images of unfilled roots and images of fractured or non-fractured unfilled roots; group 2, initial radiographic images of unfilled roots and images of fractured or non-fractured filled roots; and group 3, initial radiographic images of filled roots and images of fractured or non-fractured filled roots. Three examiners evaluated all the original digital radiographs, as well as the subtracted images, for the presence or absence of VRFs. Numerical data were subject to statistical analysis with the use of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The areas under the ROC curve for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 0.86, 0.73, and 0.66, respectively. For the original digital radiographs, areas under the ROC curve were 0.80 (without gutta-percha) and 0.73 (with gutta-percha). No statistically significant differences were found between subtracted and original images. CONCLUSIONS: Digital subtraction radiography could be considered as an alternative tool for the investigation of VRFs because of its comparable diagnostic accuracy to existing methods.

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of direct digital radiography system, filtered images, and subtraction radiography.

BACKGROUND: TO COMPARE THE DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF THREE DIFFERENT IMAGING SYSTEMS: Direct digital radiography system (DDR-CMOS), four types of filtered images, and a priori and a posteriori registration of digital subtraction radiography (DSR) in the diagnosis of proximal defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The teeth were arranged in pairs in 10 blocks of vinyl polysiloxane, and proximal defects were performed with drills of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mm diameter. Kodak RVG 6100 sensor was used to capture the images. A posteriori DSR registrations were done with Regeemy 0.2.43 and subtraction with Image Tool 3.0. Filtered images were obtained with Kodak Dental Imaging 6.1 software. Images (n = 360) were evaluated by three raters, all experts in dental radiology. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (Az) were higher for DSR images with all three drills (Az = 0.896, 0.979, and 1.000 for drills 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mm, respectively). The highest values were found for 1-mm drills and the lowest for 0.25-mm drills, with negative filter having the lowest values of all (Az = 0.631). CONCLUSION: The best method of diagnosis was by using a DSR. The negative filter obtained the worst results. Larger drills showed the highest sensitivity and specificity values of the area under the ROC curve.

Avaliação longitudinal do selamento de dentina cariada em lesões profundas de cárie / Longitudinal study on the sealing of carious dentine in deep caries lesions

Este estudo avaliou clínica e radiograficamente dentes com lesões profundas de carie submetidos ao selamento de dentina cariada por 10 anos. Trinta e dois dentes permanentes foram submetidos à remoção parcial de dentina cariada da parede pulpar da cavidade, remoção completa da dentina cariada das paredes laterais (critério de dureza clinica), forramento com cimento à base de hidróxido de cálcio, selamento provisório por 6-7 meses, reabertura da cavidade (finalidades metodológicas: avaliação clínica da dentina e coleta de uma amostra para análise microbiológica) e restauração. Os pacientes foram avaliados clínica e radiograficamente na consulta inicial, após 6-7 meses, 1 ano e meio, 3, 5 e 10 anos. Análises radiográficas qualitativas (deposição de dentina terciária e profundidade da lesão cariosa) e quantitativas (alterações na densidade radiográfica da zona radiolúcida abaixo da restauração através da subtração radiográfica digital) foram realizadas comparando-se as radiografias bitewings de 6-7 meses, 3 e 10 anos com a radiografia inicial. Dos 32 dentes, um sofreu exposição pulpar durante a remoção do material provisório e foi excluído da amostra. Ao final de 10 anos, um paciente teve sua restauração substituída e quatro desistiram de participar da pesquisa. Dos 26 dentes restantes, 16 apresentaram sucesso da terapia (vitalidade pulpar) e 10 apresentaram insucesso da terapia (5 necroses e 5 fraturas)...

This study assessed clinically and radiographically teeth with deep canes lesions submitted to the sealing of carious dentine over a 10-year period. Thirty-two permanent teeth were submitted to partial caries removal from the pulpal cavity wall, complete removal of carious dentine from the surrounding walls (clinical hardness criteria), capping with a calcium hydroxide cement, temporary sealing for 6-7 months, cavity reopening (methodological purposes: clinical assessment of dentine and collection of a sample for microbiological analysis) and filling. Patients were clinically and radiographically assessed at the initial session and after 1.5; 3; 5 and 10 years. Radiographic assessments were performed comparing bitewing radiographs taken after 6-7 months, 3 and 10 years to the baseline one, both qualitatively (tertiary dentine deposition and lesion depth) and quantitatively (radiographic density changes in the radiolucent zone beneath the restoration using digital subtraction radiography). One tooth had its pulp exposed during temporary sealing removal and was excluded from the sample...