Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

In vitro efficacy of reverse contrast and sharpen enhancement filters for detection of small-size broken files in root canals on digital intraoral radiographs

Mansour Jafarzadeh¹, Negar Chetin², Sanaz Sharifishoshtari^3♦, Mohammad Hossein Haghighizadeh⁴

¹School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, Ahvaz Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
²School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
³School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Ahvaz Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
⁴Faculty of Public Health, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Ahvaz Jundi shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

^♦Corresponding author
School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Ahvaz Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Considering the gap of information regarding the efficacy of enhancement filters of digital radiography for detection of broken instruments in root canals, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of reverse contrast and Sharpen enhancement filters for detection of small-size broken files in root canals on digital intraoral radiographs. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro, diagnostic study, 80 extracted single-canal teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n=20). Following access cavity preparation, #8, #10 and #15 K-files were introduced into the canals of teeth in groups 1-3, respectively, from their apex and were intentionally broken such that 3 mm of the file length remained in the canal. A control group without a broken file was also considered. The teeth were then mounted in sheep’s jawbone and digitally radiographed using photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate. Using SCANORA software, each image was enhanced once with the Sharpen and once with reverse contrast enhancement filter. Two observers evaluated the images for presence/absence of broken file and the sensitivity and specificity values were calculated for the three image types and compared using chi-square test. Results: No significant difference was found in diagnostic sensitivity or specificity of original, sharpened and reverse contrast images for detection of broken files in the canals (P>0.05). Conclusion: Digital radiographs enhanced with Sharpen or reverse contrast enhancement filters have similar efficacy to original digital radiographs for detection of small-size broken files in the root canal of single-rooted teeth.

Keywords: Broken Instrument, Digital Radiography, Reverse Contrast, Sharpen, Enhancement Filters.

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4203-4210

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