• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.185-189
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate how to detect proximal caries using line profile and validate linear measurements of proximal caries lesions by basic digital manipulation of radiographic images. Materials and Methods : The X-ray images of control group (15) and caries teeth (15) from patients were used. For each image, the line profile at the proximal caries-susceptible zone was calculated. To evaluate the contrast as a function of line profile to detect proximal caries, a difference coefficient (D) that indicates the relative difference between caries and sound dentin or intact enamel was measured. Results : Mean values of D were $0.0354{\pm}0.0155$ in non-caries and $0.2632{\pm}0.0982$ in caries (p<0.001). Conclusion : The mean values of caries group were higher than non-caries group and there was correlation between proximal dental caries and D. It is demonstrated that the mean value of D from caries group was higher than that of control group. From the result, values of D possess great potentiality as a new detection parameter for proximal dental caries.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2002

Purpose : To determine whether subtraction images utilizing contrast media can improve the diagnostic performance of proximal caries diagnosis compared to conventional periapical radiographic images. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six teeth with 57 proximal surfaces were radiographied using a size #2 RVG-ui sensor (Trophy Radiology, Marne-la-Vallee, France). The teeth immersed in water-soluble contrast media and subtraction images were taken. Each tooth was then sectioned for histologic examination. The digital radiographic images and subtraction images were examined and interpreted by three dentists for proximal caries. The results of the proximal caries diagnosis were then verified with the results of the histologic examination. Results: The proximal caries sensitivity using digital subtraction radiography was significantly higher than simply examining a single digital radiograph. The sensitivity of the proximal dentinal carious lesion when analyzed with the subtraction radiograph and the radiograph together was higher than with the subtraction radiograph or the radiograph alone. Conclusion: The use of subtraction radiography with contrast media may be useful for detecting proximal dentinal carious lesions.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.405-413
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• 2021

The purpose of this in vivo study was to assess the clinical screening performance of a quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) device in detecting proximal caries in primary molars. Fluorescence loss, red autofluorescence and a simplified QLF score for proximal caries (QS-proximal) were evaluated for their validity in detecting proximal caries in primary molars compared to bitewing radiography. Three hundred and forty-four primary molar surfaces were included in the study. Carious lesions were scored according to lesion severity assessed by visual-tactile and radiographic examinations. The QLF images were analyzed for two quantitative parameters, fluorescence loss and red autofluorescence, as well as for QS-proximal. For both quantitative parameters and QS-proximal, the sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver operating curve (AUROC) were calculated as a function of the radiographic scoring index at enamel and dentin caries levels. Both quantitative parameters showed fair AUROC values for detecting dentine level caries (△F = 0.794, △R = 0.750). QS-proximal showed higher AUROC values (0.757 - 0.769) than that of visual-tactile scores (0.653) in detecting dentine level caries. The QLF device showed fair screening performance in detecting proximal caries in primary molars compared to bitewing radiography.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2004

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of occlusal and proximal caries detection using CCD, CMOS, PSP and film system. Materials and Methods : 32 occlusal and 30 proximal tooth surfaces were radiographed under standardized conditions using 3 digital systems; CCD (CDX-2000HQ, Biomedysis Co., Seoul, Korea), CMOS (Schick, Schick Inc., Long Island, USA), PSP (Digora/sup (R)/FMX, Orion Co./Soredex, Helsinki, Finland) and I film system (Kodak Insight, Eastman Kodak, Rochester, USA). 5 observers examined the radiographs for occlusal and proximal caries using a 5-point confidence scale. The presence of caries was validated histologically and radiographically. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using ROC curve areas (Az). Results: Analysis using ROC curves revealed the area under each curve which indicated a diagnostic accuracy. For occlusal caries, Kodak Insight film had an Az of 0.765, CCD one of 0.730, CMOS one of 0.742 and PSP one of 0.735. For proximal caries, Kodak Insight film had an Az of 0.833, CCD one of 0.832, CMOS one of 0.828 and PSP one of 0.868. No statistically significant difference was noted between any of the imaging modalities. Conclusion: CCD, CMOS, PSP and film performed equally well in the detection of occlusal and proximal dental caries. CCD, CMOS and PSP-based digital images provided a level of diagnostic performance comparable to Kodak Insight film.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2015

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 $5{\mu}m$ 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.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the experiment was to evaluating the diagnostic ability of dental caries detection using digital subtraction in the artificial caries activity model. Materials and Methods: Digital radiographies of five teeth with 8 proximal surfaces were obtained by CCD sensor (Kodak RVG 6100 using a size #2). The digital radiographic images and subtraction images from artificial proximal caries were examined and interpreted. In this study, we proposed novel caries detection method which could diagnose the dental proximal caries from single digital radiographic image. Results: In artificial caries activity model, the range of lesional depth was $572-1,374{\mu}m$ and the range of lesional area was $36.95-138.52mm^2$. The lesional depth and the area were significantly increased with demineralization time (p<0.001). Furthermore, the proximal caries detection using digital subtraction radiography showed high detection rate compared to the proximal caries examination using simple digital radiograph. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the digital subtraction radiography from single radiographic image of artificial caries was highly efficient in the detection of dental caries compared to the data from simple digital radiograph.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of changing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) on the radiographic assessment of dental caries. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five extracted posterior teeth with proximal caries or apparently sound proximal surfaces were radiographed with conventional E-speed films and a photostimulable phosphor system using 60 kVp and 70 kVp for the caries assessment. The images were evaluated by three oral radiologists and compared with the results of the stereomicroscope analysis. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between 60 kVp and 70 kVp for the caries detection, determination of caries extension into dentin, and caries severity in either the conventional or the digital images. Good to very good inter-observer and intra-observer agreements were found for both kilovoltage values on the conventional and digital images. Conclusion: Changing the kilovoltage between 60 kVp and 70 kVp had no obvious effect on the detection of proximal caries or determination of its extension or severity.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.426-435
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the proximal caries detecting ability and identify the optimal cut-off values of two types of laser fluorescence (LF) devices; classic type (DD) and pen type (DDpen). The number of proximal surfaces participated in this study were 164 surfaces in primary dentition and 438 surfaces in permanent dentition. Each tooth surface was sequentially assessed by two types of LF devices, and bitewing radiograph. The radiographs were classified into 3 groups in primary dentition ($pR_0$, $pR_1$, $pR_2$), and 4 groups in permanent dentition ($PR_0$, $PR_1$, $PR_2$, $PR_3$) according to the depth of caries, and used as gold standard. In primary dentition, the area under the curve (AUC) values of DD were 0.851 and 0.890, and those of DDpen were 0.883 and 0.917, respectively in enamel caries and dentin caries. In permanent dentition, the AUC values of DD were 0.762 and 0.886, and those of DDpen were 0.828 and 0.958, respectively in enamel caries and dentin caries. When detecting proximal caries in posterior teeth with LF devices, DDpen is more useful than DD in both primary and permanent dentition. However, in primary dentition, DD can also be useful to detect proximal caries.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the senior dental students for the proximal dental caries on intraoral radiographs and to compare it with the dental hospital residents, the reference group. It was also investigated the diagnostic performance according to the carious lesion depth. Thirty-five intraoral periapical and bitewing radiographs with 213 proximal surfaces included in this study were selected from the dental patients at Chonnam National University Hospital. The observers were 181 senior dental students from 5 dental schools and 40 dentists who were second year resident from 5 dental hospitals. They were asked to evaluate the presence or the absence of the proximal dental caries. The results were as follows: 1. The mean of the hitting rate for the overall observers was 184.51 surfaces and the diagnostic accuracy was 86.62％. 2. The diagnostic performance of the sound proximal tooth surfaces was very high, i.e., 91.5％ true negative rate and 8.5％ false positive rate. 3. The diagnostic performance of the dentist group was higher than the student group(P<0.05). 4. The proximal dental caries perceptibility increased as the lesion depth increased significantly(P<0.001) except no difference between the carious lesion depth III and IV (P>0.001).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of Q-ray view (All-in-one Bio, Seoul, Korea) in detection of proximal caries in primary molars with sound marginal ridges. Thirty two children aged 3-9 years (average $5.6{\pm}1.3$ years old) were chosen, and two examiners evaluated 100 proximal surfaces of primary molars with sound marginal ridges. The teeth were examined with; (a) visual examination, (b) Q-ray view, (c) DIAGNOdent (KaVo, Biberach, Germany) and (d) digital periapical radiography. Kappa statistic was used to assess the agreement between each examination method and the degree of caries progression. The kappa values for enamel caries were 0.15 (visual examination), 0.10 (Q-ray view), 0.25 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.68 (digital periapical radiography). The kappa values for dentinal caries were 0.34 (visual examination), 0.56 (Q-ray view), 0.44 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.70 (digital periapical radiography). Although Q-ray view showed low diagnostic ability in detection of enamel caries, it was effective in detection of hidden proximal caries extended into dentin. Q-ray view would be a useful and simple device which could aid pediatric dentists in detection of hidden proximal caries in primary molars especially when examining uncooperative children or disabled persons.