A computerized system to measure interproximal alveolar bone levels in epidemiologic, radiographic investigations: II. Intra-and inter-examiner variation study

Abstract

The study was aimed at analyzing intra- and inter-examiner variations in computerized measurement and in non-measurability of alveolar bone level in a cross-sectional, epidemiologic material. At each interproximal tooth surface, alveolar bone height in percentage of root length (B/R) and tooth length (B/T) were determined twice by one examiner and once by a second examiner from x5-magnified periapical radiographs. The overall intra- and inter-examiner variations in measurement were 2.85% and 3.84% of root length and 1.97% and 2.82% of tooth length, respectively. The variations were different for different tooth groups and for different degrees of severity of marginal periodontitis. The overall proportions of non-measurable tooth surfaces varied with examiner from 32% to 39% and from 43% to 48% of the available interproximal tooth surfaces for B/R and B/T, respectively. With regard to the level of reliability, the computerized method reported is appropriate to cross-sectional, epidemiologic investigations from radiographs.

Computerized planimetric method for clinical plaque measurement

“…The standard deviation here stated the precision of the measurements (26). From one of the students, one slide taken at days 4, 7 and 14, respectively, was examined by the same examiner.…”

A computerized system to measure interproximal alveolar bone levels in epidemiologic, radiographic investigations: I. Methodologic study

“…it may be assumed that the significant but uncontrollable effect of measurement location is negligible. Firstly, this variation is much smaller than the variation due to location of radiographic landmarks (23)(24)(25)29). Secondly, interproximal alveolar bone height or loss is often expressed in percentage of root or tooth length, to minimize the effect on measurement of foreshortening or elongation of the radiographic image (8,9,23,24,(29)(30)(31); on the digitizing surface, the two components of this ratio are measured within the same area.…”

“…The equation expressing the linear relationship between measurement accuracy and scale distance is easily integrated in a computer application program to calibrate each measurement (26). This calibration should be done with regard to the systematics of the variation, even though the variation in accuracy reported is much smaller than that due to location of landmarks on the radiographs (23)(24)(25)291. Table 1 also shows that the measurement accuracy depends on the measurement location on the digitizing surface (2rc = 0.03 mm).…”

“…Co., Rochester, N.Y., USA) from an adult epidemiologic material were used (25). At A mounting card for periapical radioeach interproximal tooth surface, except for graphs surrounded by a black paper mask could be inserted between two 400 the third molars, x-y Cartesian coordinates manually translated on the enlarger negative junction, and crown tip were successively entered from the digitizing surface stage, to enable the projection of each radiocross of the digitizer stylus over each radiomaintained in place during projection by graphic landmark and by depressing the pressure from the lamphouse.…”

Early Carotid Atherosclerosis in Subjects With Periodontal Diseases

“…At each measurable interproximal surface, except on third molars, alveolar bone height was determined in percentage of the root length from radiograms magnified five times, using the computerized measuring system described by Wouters et al 30 Radiograms were obtained at baseline and at the end of the study. Dental examinations were performed by one of the authors (B.S.)…”