The Effect of Edge Enhancement, Embossing, Noise Reduction and Sharpening in Detecting Proximal Caries
S. Valizadeh1, F. Famori1 and S. Rahimian2

1Assistant Professor Of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran 2Assistant Professor Of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran.

Abstract: Different enhancement filters have been used to improve the diagnostic accuracy of radiographic images in digital systems. However, distinct effects of these filters did not determined on the diagnostic accuracy of dental caries. The present in vitro study evaluated the effects of software enhancement filters of edge enhancement, emboss, noise reduction and sharpening on the accuracy of proximal caries detections. In this diagnostic in vitro trial, 42 non-cavitated and restoration-free extracted permanent molars and premolars were selected and mounted into 20 blocks in contact with each other. Radiographic images were obtained from the teeth in similar standardized conditions by parallel technique. The images were shown without any enhancement filters or using the filters of edge enhancement, emboss, noise reduction and sharpening. Depth of proximal caries was determined by a radiologist using 4-scaled criteria. The diagnostic accuracy indices of digital images were calculated using different enhancement filters. Diagnostic accuracy of the original digital images was lower than the gold standard technique. Following enhancement filters of edge enhancement, emboss, noise reduction and sharpening; diagnostic odd’s of the enamel proximal caries was less than 20 score; although it was reported to be higher than 20 in the proximal caries located in the outer and inner half of dentin. Under this study limitations, enhancement filters of edge enhancement, emboss, noise reduction and sharpening did not significantly influenced the diagnostic accuracy of the enamel proximal caries; however, the diagnostic accuracy of digital images increased together with the caries progression in the outer and inner half of dentin using enhancement filters.

Keywords: Enhancement; Digital Images; Proximal Caries

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