Comparación entre radiografias convencionales y digitales en la medición de canales radiculares

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare conventional and digital radiographs to measure root canals. Fifty permanent single-canal teeth were employed. The roots were placed on the film or on the storage phosphor plate on their longest axes. And they were perpendicularly exposed to the x-ray beam in a distance of 30 cm with the exposure time of 0.08 s. The conventional radiographs were obtained using periapical film #2 (InSight, Kodak). They were measured with a millimeter ruler and with a digital calipter. The digital radiographs were obtained with DenOptix and Digora systems. Their images were measured with their programs tools. The real measures were obtained using K-files #20 (Dentisply- Maillefer). They were also measured using the ruler and the digital calipter. The canal length was measured from the cervical part to the apical foramina observed in the radiographs or to the anatomic apex by stereomicroscopy. Two observers made the measurements of the root canals twice (ICC= - 0.60 -0.99). DenOptix system presented the least average range in millimeters when compared to the gold standard (0.12 mm and 0.22mm). The conventional method (film) presented the largest average range (0.55mm) when measured with the ruler. The values obtained with Digora system were similar to the values obtained with the conventional method (t-Student and Friedman; p<0.05). The three radiographic methods showed differences statistically significant from the real measurements of the real canals.