The Subjective Image Quality of Conventional and Digital Panoramic Radiography Among 6 to 10 year old Children

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic quality of orthopantomographs made with the conventional unit Orthophos Siemens and the direct digital unit Planmeca 2000 cc Proline among children 6-10 years old and to investigate possible differences on image interpretation between oral radiologists and pediatric dentists. Methods: Study material included two independent groups of panoramic images (50 in each group) made with different panoramic modalities (digital, conventional). Eight observers (four pediatric dentists and four oral radiologists) evaluated all images for diagnostic quality in 12 pre-determined areas using a 4-point rating scale. Results: Digital and conventional panoramic radiography performed almost similarly as far as it concerns the specific diagnostic tasks rated with the exception of the interproximal contacts of mandibular molars where digital panoramic radiography was scored significantly higher and the periapical region of anterior mandible and anterior mandibular tooth germs where conventional panoramic radiography was found to be significantly better. Both oral radiologists and pediatric dentists graded similarly digital and conventional radiographs for a variety of diagnostic tasks. Conclusions: It can be concluded that diagnostic image quality obtained with the digital orthopantomograph unit Planmeca 2000 cc Proline was generally equal to image quality obtained with the conventional orthopantomograph unit Orthophos Plus CD. Image interpretation between oral radiologists and pediatric dentists was not substantially different