THE EFFECT OF IMAGE ENHANCEMENTS AND DUAL OBSERVERS ON PROXIMAL CARIES DETECTION

New technologies, including image enhancements, have been developed in order to increase diagnostic accuracy for caries detection. Very little data exists as to whether or not these enhancements actually improve accuracy. Low technology solutions to improving early caries diagnosis, such as using dual observers, have not been tested. Our aims were to determine if certain image enhancements and dual observers had an effect on three diagnostic tasks. Seven observers viewed unenhanced and enhanced images taken on PSP and Schick 33 sensors and were asked to determine whether proximal caries lesions, dentin extension, and cavitation were present. Pairs of observers also evaluated the unenhanced PSP images and recorded their confidence. Micro-CT was used as the gold standard. For caries lesion detection, PSP outperformed Schick 33 sensors. Observers (single and dual), filters, and receptors had no effect on the other diagnostic tasks. Observers were more reliable in detecting dentin extension with Schick sensors.Master of Scienc