Comparison of conventional film with different digital and digitally filtered images in the detection of simulated internal resorption cavities - an ex vivo study in human cadaver jaws

Objective. To determine observers' ability to detect experimentally induced simulated internal resorption cavities using conventional film, digital images and digitally filtered images. Study design. In the coronal plane, 11 single-rooted teeth with radiographically visible pulps were split in half. Four artificial internal resorptions were simulated in each tooth at the coronal, cervical, mid-root, and apical locations of the buccal/labial wall. Conventional and digital radiographs were taken from 3 different views in 4 steps. Three observers examined conventional, digital, and digitally filtered images for the presence of resorption cavities. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance. Pair-wise comparison between receptors, location, and size were made by Tukey post hoc test. Results. One digital system produced a significantly lower proportion of correct readings, with no significant difference between other imaging types (P < .001). In the apical region, internal resorption was the most difficult to detect. The cervical region had the highest proportion of correct readings (P < .001). False-positive readings were higher in the apical and mid-root locations (P < .001). Defect size increased detection ability. Interaction was significant between receptor and size and between size and location (P < .001). Conclusions. All systems, except PSP, produced similar results in detecting simulated internal resorption.