LAUSR

OBJECTIVES This in vitro study aimed to compare the diagnostic outcomes of caries detection in premolar and molar teeth on digital periapical radiographs viewed as grayscale images and in the Java-based software (JBS) pseudocolour spectrum. METHOD AND MATERIALS The study comprised 92 premolar or molar human teeth (n=46 with caries and n=46 without clinical caries). For each tooth, digital periapical radiographic images (DPRI), JBS pseudocolour images and stereomicroscope images were collected, and caries presence and depth were recorded. In JBS pseudocolour images, region of interests (ROI) were detected, and ROI values for caries area (ROI1), non-caries area (ROI2), mesial area (ROI3) and distal area (ROI4) were obtained. The degree of inter-observer agreement was determined using the kappa coefficient, and the sensitivity and specificity of the methods were assessed using ROC analysis. RESULTS While neither method was consistent with stereomicroscopy in determining caries depth (P < .005), for both observers, the kappa value of JBS pseudocolour images were slightly higher than DPRI. ROI1 was found to be significantly lower than ROI2 (P < .001), while no difference was found between ROI3 and ROI4 (P = .877). For both observers, the sensitivity and specificity obtained from JBS pseudocolour were above 89%. CONCLUSION JBS pseudocolour images can be used for caries detection and offer high sensitivity and specificity.