Comparative study of conventional versus digital bitewing radiographs for estimating alveolar bone level.

Conventional and digital bitewing radiographs were taken for right posterior segments and analysis was done. Hence, 50 patients comprising of both male and females aged between 20-70 years were randomly selected for the study. The values obtained from two independent radiologists in conventional bitewing radiographs and with SOPRO imaging digital software in digital bitewing radiographic methods were compared to estimate the amount of bone height obtained through each method. No significant difference was found between the mean values of alveolar bone level measured by the two types of radiographs for all the sites; and is almost similar to those revealed on conventional radiographs.Thus, we show either of the two radiographic techniques i.e., conventional and digital bitewing radiographs can be used interchangeably in epidemiologic studies.