Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Image contrast range for detection of enamel defects using a digital dental imaging system

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Oral Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the acceptable range of image contrast for the detection of enamel defects by adjusting the contrast and brightness of a digital dental imaging system. Extracted human premolars and molars with enamel defects on the proximal surfaces were mounted in maxillary and mandibular sets on phantoms. The phantoms were individually exposed and processed with a digital dental imaging system from Computed Dental Radiography (CDR, Schick Technologies, Inc., NY, USA). The images were transferred to a personal computer, and the contrast and brightness were determined in the range of ±100 digital digit numbers (DDN) using Adobe Photoshop 4.0.1 J (Adobe Systems Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The 8-bit CRT display used was set at maximum inherent brightness. The relationship between the pixel value and the DDN in contrast at both the enamel and the background on the monitor was used to measure the acceptable image contrast by manipulating contrast and brightness. Six dental radiologists were asked to determine the presence or absence of enamel defects. The detectability was statistically analyzed using Fisher's protected limited standard deviation (PLSD) non-parametric test. When the inherent brightness on an 8-bit CRT display was adjusted to the maximum, there was an acceptable range of image contrast and brightness for the detection of enamel defects with this digital dental imaging system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sanderink, G.C.H.: Imaging: New versus traditional technological acids.Int Dent J. 43: 335–342, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Wenzel, A., Gröndahl, H-G: Direct digital radiography in the dental office.Int Dent J. 45: 27–34, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Versteeg, C.H., Sanderink, G.C.H., van der Stelt, P.F.: Efficacy of digital intra-oral radiography in clinical dentistry.J Dent. 25: 215–224, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wenzel, A., Hintze H., Mikkelsen, L., Mouyen, F.: Radiographic detection of occlusal caries in noncavitated teeth: A comparison of conventional film radiographs, digitized film radiographs, and Radio Visio Graphy.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 72: 621–626, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Furkart, A.J., Dove, S.B., Mc David, W.D., Nummikoski, P., Matteson, S.: Direct digital radiography for the detection of periodontal bone lesions.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 74: 652–660, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wenzel, A., Borg, E., Hintze, H., Gröndahl, H.G.: Accuracy of caries diagnosis in digital images from charge-coupled device and storage phosphor systems: an in vitro study.Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 24: 250–254, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Verdonschot, E.H., Kuijpers, J.M.C., Polder, B.J., De Leng-Worm, M.H., Bronkhorst, E.M.: Effects of digital grey-scale modification on the diagnosis of small approximal carious lesions.J Dent. 20: 44–49, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Molteni, R.: Direct digital dental X-ray imaging with Visualix/VIXA.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 76: 235–243, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hintze, H., Wenzel, A., Jones, C.: In vitro comparison of D- and E-Speed film radiography, RVG, and Visualix digital radiography for the detection of enamel approximal and dentinal occlusal caries lesions.Caries Res. 28: 363–367, 1994.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hayakawa, Y., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Kuroyanagi, K., Molteni, R.: Beam quality and image contrast with VIXA-2.Oral Radiol. 11: 31–36, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wakoh, M., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Kelly, M.S., Kuroyanagi, K.: Perceptibility of defects in an aluminium test object: a comparison of the RVG-S and first generation VIXA systems with and without added niobium filtration.Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 24: 211–214, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Nelvig, P., Wing, K., Welander, U.: Sens-A-Ray: a new system for direct digital intraoral radiography.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 74: 818–823, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Harada, T., Nishikawa, K., Shibuya, H., Hayakawa, Y., Kuroyanagi, K.: Sens-A-Ray characteristics with variations in beam quality.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 80: 120–123, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hayakawa, Y., Farman, A.G., Kelly, M.S. Kuroyanagi, K.: Signal-to-noise ratio: Computed Dental Radiography versus Sens-A-Ray.Oral. Radiol. 109–113, 1995.

  15. Mouyen, F., Benz, C., Sonnabend, E., Lodter, J.P.: Presentation and physical evaluation of Radio Visio Graphy.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 68: 238–242, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Benz, C., Mouyen, F.: Evaluation of the new Radio Visio Graphy system image quality.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 72: 627–631, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sanderink, G.C.H., Huiskens, R.: Radio Visio Graphy for caries detection: An in-vitro comparison with conventional radiography.J Dent Res. 71: 705, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Russell, M., Pitts, N.B.: Occlusal caries diagnosis: Radiovisiography versus bite-wing radiography.Caries Res. 25: 217, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hayakawa, Y., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Kuroyanagi, K.: Pixel value modification using RVG-4 automatic exposure compensation for instant high-contrast images.Oral Radiol. 12: 11–18, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Scarfe, W.C., Farman, A.G., Kelly, M.S.: Flash Dent. an alternative charge-coupled device/scintillator-based direct digital intraoral radiographic system.Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 23: 11–17, 1994.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Schick, D.B., Rumack, P.M.: Computed dental radiography: Evaluation of a new charge-coupled device-based intraoral radiographic system.Quintessence International 26: 399–404, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hayakawa, Y., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Kuroyanagi, K., Rumack, P.M., Schick, D.B.: Optimum exposure ranges for computed dental radiography.Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 25: 71–75, 1996.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hayakawa, Y., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Kuroyanagi, K.: Processing to achieve high-contrast images with computed dental radiography.Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 25: 211–214, 1996.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kang, B.C., Farman, A.G., Scarfe, W.C., Goldsmith, L.J.: Observer differentiation of proximal enamel mechanical defects versus natural proximal dental caries with Computed Dental Radiography.Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 82: 459–465, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wakoh, M., Kitagawa, H., Harada, T., Shibuya, H., Kuroyanagi, K.: Computed Dental Radiography system versus conventional dental X-ray films for detection of simulated proximal caries.Oral Radiol. 13: 73–82, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Tate, W.H., White, R.R.: Disinfection of human teeth for educational purposes.J Dent Educ. 55: 583–585, 1991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Nielsen, L-L., Hoernoe, M., Wenzel, A.: Radiographic detection of cavitation in approximal surfaces of primary teeth using a digital storage phosphor system and conventional film, and the relationship between cavitation and radiographic lesion depth: an in vitro study.Int J Paediat Dent. 6: 167–172, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. DeBelder, M., Bollen, R., Duville, R.: A new approach to the evaluation of radiographic systems.J photogr Sci. 19: 126–131, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wenzel, A., Fejerkov, O., Kidd, E., JoystonBechal, S., Groeneveld, A.: Depth of occlusal caries assessed clinically, by conventional film radiographs, and by digitized, processed Radiographs.Caries Res. 24: 327–333, 1990.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wenzel, A., Larsen, M.J., Fejerskov, O.: Detection of occlusal caries without cavitation by visual inspection, film radiographs, xeroradiographs, and digitized radiographs.Caries Res. 25: 365–371, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wenzel, A.: Computer-aided image manipulation of intraoral radiographs to enhance diagnosis in dental practice: a review.Int Dent J. 43: 99–108, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Nishikawa, K., Kuroyanagi, K.: Luminance dependency of detectability on CRT display.Advances in Maxillofacial Imaging—Proceedings of 11th Congress of IADMFR/CMI'97. pp. 293–298, 1997, Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, 261-8502, Chiba, Japan

    Hiromi Kitagawa D.D.S., Ph.D., Mamoru Wakoh D.D.S., Ph.D. & Kinya Kuroyanagi D.D.S., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Hiromi Kitagawa D.D.S., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mamoru Wakoh D.D.S., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kinya Kuroyanagi D.D.S., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kitagawa, H., Wakoh, M. & Kuroyanagi, K. Image contrast range for detection of enamel defects using a digital dental imaging system. Oral Radiol. 15, 95–104 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02489647

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02489647

Key Words

Search

Navigation