• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.9 no.4 s.32
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• pp.133-139
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• 2004

In this paper. we propose a medical image processing method for detection of periodontal disease by geometric analysis on dental digital radiography. This paper proposes the method of an automatic image alignment and detection of minute changes, to overcome defects in the conventional subtraction radiography by image processing technique, that is necessary for getting subtraction image and ROI(Region Of Interest) focused on a selection method using the geometric features in target images. Therefore, we use these methods because they give accuracy, consistency and objective information or data to results. In result, easily and visually we can identify minute differences in the affected parts whether they have problems or not, and using application system.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2001

Purpose: To compare the film density of Insight dental X-ray film (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA) with that of Ektaspeed Plus film (Eastman Kodak) under manual and automatic processing conditions. Materials and Methods : Insight and Ektaspeed Plus films were exposed at three different exposure conditions with an aluminum step wedge on the films under the three different exposure times. The exposed films were processed by both manual and automatic ways. The Base plus fog density and the optical density made by exposing step wedge were calculated using a digital densitometer (model 07-443, Victoreen Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). The optical densities of the Insight and Ektaspeed film versus thickness of alumimun wedge at the same exposure time were plotted on the graphs. Statistical analyses were applied for comparing the optical densities of the two films. Results: The film density of both Insight films and Ektaspeed Plus films under automatic processing condition was significantly higher over the manual processing. The film density of Insight films was significantly higher than that of Ektaspeed Plus films on both automatic and manual processing conditions. Conclusion: The radiation exposure time can be reduced when using Insight over Ektaspeed Plus film. To take the full advantage of reducing exposure time, Insight film should be processed automatically.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between sleep bruxism(SB) and pulpal calcifications in young women. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 female participants between 20 and 31 years of age who were referred to our radiology clinic for a dental check-up, including 59 SB and 41 non-SB patients, were sampled for the analysis. SB was diagnosed based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. All teeth were evaluated on digital panoramic radiographs to detect pulpal calcifications, except third molars, teeth with root canal treatment, and teeth with root resorption. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for pulpal calcifications. The Spearman correlation coefficient was applied and the Pearson chi-square test was used for categorical variables. To test intra-examiner reproducibility, Cohen kappa analysis was applied. P values <.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of 2800 teeth were evaluated (1652 teeth from SB patients and 1148 from non-SB patients), and 61% of patients had at least 1 dental pulpal calcification. No statistically significant relationship was found between SB and pulpal calcifications (P>0.05). In SB patients, the total number of pulpal calcifications was 129, while in non-SB patients, it was 84. Binary logistic analysis showed that SB was not a risk factor for the presence of pulpal calcifications(odds ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.52-2.69, P>.05). Conclusion: No relationship was found between SB and pulpal calcifications.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2004

Purpose: To compare three digital radiographic imaging sensors by evaluating the visibility of endodontic file tips with interobserver reproducibility and assessing subjectively the clarity of images in comparison with the x-ray film images. Materials and Methods: Forty-five extracted sound premolars were used for this study. Fifteen plaster blocks were made with three premolars each and #8, 10, 15 K-flexofiles were inserted into the root canal of premolars. They were radiographically exposed using periapical x-ray films (Kodak Insight Dental film, Eastmann Kodak company, Rochester, USA), Digora imaging plates (Soredex-Orion Co., Helsinki, Finland), CDX 2000HQ sensors (Biomedisys Co., Seoul, Korea), and CDR sensors (Schick Inc., Long Island, USA). The visibility of endodontic files was evaluated with interobserver reproducibility, which was calculated as the standard deviations of X, Y coordinates of endodontic file tips measured on digital images by three oral and maxillofacial radiologists. The clarity of images was assessed subjectively using 3 grades, i.e. plus, equal, and minus in comparison with the conventional x-ray film images. Results: Interobserver reproducibility of endodontic file tips was the highest in CDR sensor (p < 0.05) only except at Y coordinates of #15 file. In the subjective assessment of the image clarity, the plus grade was the most frequent in CDR sensor at all size of endodontic file (p < 0.05). Conclusion : CDR sensor was the most superior to the other sensors, CDX 2000HQ sensor and Digora imaging plate in the evaluation of interobserver reproducibility of endodontic file tip and subjective assessment of image clarity.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to examine the effects of image filter on observer performance by counting the number of holes at each wedge step on a radiographic image. Materials and Methods : An aluminum step wedge with 11 steps ranged in thickness from 1.5 mm to 16.5 mm in 1.5 mm increments was fabricated for this study. Each step had 10 notched holes with 1.0 mm diameter on the bottom of the step wedge which were ranged in depths from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm in 0.1 mm increments. Digital radiographic raw images of the aluminum step wedge were acquired by using CCD intraoral sensor. The images were processed using several types of noise reduction filters and kernel sizes. Three observers counted the number of holes which could be discriminated on each step. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. Results : The number of holes at each step was decreased as the thickness of step was increased. The number of holes at each step on the raw images was significantly higher than that on the processed images. The number of holes was different according to the types and kernel sizes of the image filters. Conclusions : The types and kernel sizes of image filters on observer performance were important, therefore, they should be standardized for commercial digital imaging systems.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2005

Purpose : (1) To analyse the effect of exposure time, ROI size and one impact factor in the image processing procedure on estimates of fractal dimension; and (2) to analyse the correlated relationship between the fractal dimension and the Cu-Eq value (bone density). Materials and Methods : The cylindric bone phantoms of 6 large and 5 small diameter having different bone densities respectively and human dry mandible segment with copper step wedge were radiographed at 1.0 and 1.2 sec esposure (70 kVp, 7 mA) using one occlusal film and digitized. Eleven rectangular ROIs from 11 cylindric bone phantoms and 4 rectan-gular ROIs from cortical, middle, periodontal regions, and socket of bone were selected. Gaussian blurred Image was subtracted from original image of each ROI and multiplied respectively by 1, 0.8, and 0.5, and then the image was made binary, eroded and dilated once, and skeletonized. The fractal dimension was calculated by means of a box counting method in the software ImageJ. Results : The fractal dimension was decreased gradually with continued bone density decrease showing strong correlations (bone phantom; r> 0.87, bone; r> 0.68) under 70 kVp 1.0 sec M = 0.8. Fractal dimensions showed the significant differerence (p < 0.05) between two different exposure times on the same small ROI of bone phantom. Fractal dimensions between two different sizes of ROI on bone phantom showed the significant differerence (p < 0.05) under 1.2 sec exposure, but did not show it (p > 0.05) under 1.0 sec exposure. Conclusions : Exposure time, ROI size, and modifying factor during subtracting could become impacting on the results of fractal dimension. Fractal analysis with thoroughly evaluated method considering the various impacting factors on the results could be useful in assessing the bone density in dental radiography.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.134-141
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• 2018

Purpose: To measure the head tilting angle creating initial condylar cut-off and to find the head position inducing the superimposition of the cervical vertebrae over the mandibular ramus on panoramic radiograph. Materials and Methods: The panoramic radiographs were taken with Didactic skull on cervical spine model (Scientific GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) using Kodak 8000c Digital Panoramic radiography. For the inherent radiolucency of the plastic skull model, radiopaque 1 mm diameter lead wires were attached along the margin of the mandibular condyle, ramus, mandibular body, cervical vertebrae, and FH plane of the skull model. For measuring the head tilting angle creating the condylar head cutoff, panoramic radiographs were taken by tilting the FH plane downward in 5 degree increments. For finding the distance between transverse process of the third cervical vertebra and gonion inducing superimposition of cervical vertebrae on the mandibular ramus, panoramic radiographs were taken by decreasing the distance in 0.5 cm increments. Result and Conclusion: The condylar cutoff began to appear when the head of skull model was tilted downward by 15o. As the head tilting angle increasing, the condylar cutoff became more prominent. The superimposition of cervical vertebrae over the mandibular ramus began to appear when the distance between the gonion and third cervical vertebra was 1.0 cm. As the distance decreasing, the superimpostion became more prominent.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of digital models from 3 dimentional (3D) optical scanner and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: We obtained digital models from 11 pairs of stone casts using a 3D optical scanner and a CBCT, and compared the accuracy of the models. Results: The error range of average positive distance was 0.059 - 0.117 mm and negative distance was 0.066 - 0.146 mm. Statistically (P < 0.05), average positive distance was larger than $70{\mu}m$ and shorter than $100{\mu}m$, and that of negative distance was larger than $100{\mu}m$ and shorter than $120{\mu}m$. Conclusion: We concluded that the accuracy of digital models generated from CBCT is not appropriate to make final prostheses. However, it may be acceptable for provisional restorations and orthodontic diagnoses with respect to the accuracy of the digitalization.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.262-266
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• 2013

A new concept of periapical radiography, intra oral x-ray tube and detector system is introduced. It is new system that a miniature x-ray tube is inserted into mouse and it acquired digital image using external detector. In this study, we have investigated temperature and dose distribution of insertional x-ray tube for periapical radiography. To analyze temperature characteristic of x-ray tube, we attached the thermocouple to surface of x-ray tube and we measured the temperature according to distance. Also, we measured the dose distribution of a miniature x-ray tube according to distance. As a result, temperature was constant to $27^{\circ}C$ over 2mm without cooling system, dose distribution of x-ray tube was 3.14 and 1.84mGy in 3 and 5cm, respectively. Therefore, the proposed x-ray system works in lower dose than conventional dental x-ray system. Thus, it is considered that new concept of system will have a significant effect on medical imaging technology.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2015

Purpose: Contrast, sharpness, enhancement, and density can be changed in digital systems. The important question is to what extent the changes in these variables affect the accuracy of caries detection. Materials and Methods: Forty eight extracted human posterior teeth with healthy or proximal caries surfaces were imaged using a photostimulable phosphor (PSP) sensor. All original images were processed using a six-step method: (1) applying "Sharpening 2" and "Noise Reduction" processing options to the original images; (2) applying the "Magnification 1:3" option to the image obtained in the first step; (3) enhancing the original images by using the "Diagonal/"option; (4) reviewing the changes brought about by the third step of image processing and then, applying "Magnification 1:3"; (5) applying "Sharpening UM" to the original images; and (6) analyzing the changes brought about by the fifth step of image processing, and finally, applying "Magnification 1:3." Three observers evaluated the images. The tooth sections were evaluated histologically as the gold standard. The diagnostic accuracy of the observers was compared using a chi-squared test. Results: The accuracy levels irrespective of the image processing method ranged from weak (18.8%) to intermediate (54.2%), but the highest accuracy was achieved at the sixth image processing step. The overall diagnostic accuracy level showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that the application of "Sharpening UM" along with the "Magnification 1:3" processing option improved the diagnostic accuracy and the observer agreement more effectively than the other processing procedures.