Interproximal bone loss assessment: Comparison of conventional and digital radiographs.

Intraoral radiographs are important diagnostic tools that play a major role in diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis of periodontal diseases. This study assesses the accuracy of intraoral periapical (IOPA) and radiovisiography (RVG) radiographs in detection of interproximal alveolar bone loss using intrasurgical (IS) measurements as the gold standard. Interproximal alveolar bone loss were measured in 23 patients with moderate to severe periodontitis, using digital vernier caliper for IOPA and linear measurement tool inbuilt in RVG system, from radiographs taken with standardized techniques which were compared with the surgical readings. 106 interproximal sites were measured in IOPA, RVG radiographs and compared with IS method. Paired t test showed significant difference in bone levels between the systems. A contingency analysis of categorical bone levels (early, moderate & advanced) showed significant differences in the imaging systems. Overall radiographic assessment of interproximal bone loss by either IOPA or RVG radiographs shows no total agreement in comparison with IS measurements, although it was found that both conventional and digital radiographs are of use in interproximal bone loss assessment but in different similarities