Evaluation of the quality of digital images acquired with different resolutions in a storage phosphor system

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the quality of the image acquired with the DenOptix storage phosphor plate (Dentsply International/Gendex Dental X-Ray Division, Des Plaines, IL), with three different resolutions - 150, 300 and 600 dpi, as well as the efficiency of some tools that are available in such a kind of software. The objects analyzed were 15 teeth containing a #8 endodontic file in their root canal. Endodontic measurements were performed by 5 examiners. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the employed resolutions. The 150 dpi images had inferior quality when compared with the 300 and 600 dpi images, which were similar to each other. The different digital tools used did not show statistically significant difference. According to the results it was concluded that the images obtained with150 dpi were worse than those obtained with 300 and 600 dpi, which presented similar efficiency and good image quality for radiographic analysis. Based on the similar results obtained with the different digital tools analyzed, it was concluded that, in endodontic measurements, the choice between working with only one tool or with associations of two or more tools, depends upon a subjective criterion of selection.