Evaluation of first upper premolars apexes image in dissociated x-rays.

Abstract

The radiographic dissociation used in Dentistry results in images with various degrees of distortion. With the aim to evaluate whether the loss of sharpness associated with distortion compromises the dental apex identification, a hundred pairs of radiographs of first upper premolars (orto and mesioradial) were analized. Three calibrated observers evaluated, in ideal conditions of observation, the buccal and palatal roots of each tooth on the dissociated image, in relation to the identification of each apex, attributing scores from 0 to 4 (0 =no; 1 =poor; 2 =reasonable; 3 = good; 4= well identified). It was noted that the palatal root presented higher scores and the buccal root showed lower scores (Wilcoxon test - p = 0.01). It was concluded that the radiographic dissociation of the first upper premolar compromises the sharpness of the image of the apex of the buccal root.