Diagnostic Accuracy of Digital and Conventional Radiography in the Detection of Non-Cavitated Approximal Dental Caries

Background: radiography plays an important role in the detection of interproximal caries. objectives: the aim of the present study was to determine diagnostic accuracy of charge- coupled devices (ccd), photo stimulable phosphor (psp) and film radiography in detect- ing non-cavitated caries. patients and methods: seventy-two non-cavitated approximal surfaces of extracted human posterior teeth were radiographed under standardized conditions using three intraoral modalities: ccd dixi3 (planmeca, finland), psp digora pct (soredex, finland), and e-speed film (kodak, usa). radiographs were interpreted by four observers and car- ies lesions were classified as sound (r0), restricted to enamel (r1), reaching the dentino- enamel junction (dej) and the outer half of the dentin (r2) and the inner half of the den- tin (r3). the teeth were subsequently sectioned for histological analysis which served as the gold standard for radiographic examination. results: microscopic examinations showed that the distribution of caries were 63.9% sound, 18.1% enamel, 9.7% dej and outer half of the dentin and 8.3% into the inner half of the dentin. the sensitivity and specificity of film, ccd and psp for the detection of enamel caries were 38% and 98%; 15% and 96 %; and 23% and 98%, respectively. the sensitivity and specificity of film, ccd and psp for the detection of both dentin and enamel caries were 55% and 100%; 45% and 100% ; and 55% and 100%, respectively. conclusions: the results demonstrated that the diagnostic accuracy of digital images is similar to that of conventional film radiography in the detection of non-cavitated approximal caries.