Detection of Proximal Caries at the Molar Teeth Using Edge Enhancement Algorithm

Abstract

Panoramic X-Ray produces the most common oral digital radiographic image that it used in dentistry practice. The image can further improve accuracy compared to analog one. This study aims to establish proximal caries edge on enhancement images so they can be easily recognized. The images were obtained from the Department of Radiology. General Hospital of M. Djamil Padang Indonesia. Total file of images to be tested were 101. Firstly, the images are analyzed by dentists who practiced at Segment Padang Hospital Indonesia. They concluded that there is proximal caries in 30 molar teeth. Furthermore, the images were processed using Matlab software with the following steps, i.e. cropping, enhancement, edge detection, and edge enhancement. The accuracy rate of detection of edge enhancement images being compared with that of dentist analysis was 73.3%. In the edge enhancement images proximal caries edge can be found conclusively in 22 teeth and dubiously in eight teeth. The results of this study convinced that edge enhancement images can be recommended to assist dentists in detecting proximal caries.