Abstract
Background: Different enhancements have been used to improve the diagnostic accuracy of radiographic images in digital systems.
However, the diagnostic accuracy of the effects of these enhancement options on dental caries has not been determined.
Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of software enhancements of zooming, colorization, and contrast conversion on the
accuracy of proximal caries detection.
Materials and Methods: In this diagnostic in vitro trial study, 42 non-cavitated and restoration-free extracted permanent molars
and premolars were selected and mounted onto 14 blocks in contact with each other. Radiographic images were obtained from
the teeth in similar standardized condition using the paralleling technique. The images were shown without any enhancement or
with using the options of zooming, colorization, and contrast conversion. Depth of proximal caries was determined by a radiologist
using four-scaled criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of digital images that had undergone different enhancements was calculated by
the chi-square test.
Results: The diagnostic odds of the original digital images were lower than 20 (5.7). By using the enhancement options of zooming,
colorization, and contrast conversion, the diagnostic odds of the enamel proximal caries had a score of less than 20. The score was
higher than 20 for proximal caries located in the outer and inner half of the dentin.
Conclusions: The enhancement options of zooming, colorization, and contrast conversion did not significantly influence the diagnostic
accuracy of digital images in enamel caries, but they enhanced caries diagnosis/progression in the outer and inner half of
the dentin.