There is evidence that capture and processing of the digital radiographic images may contain artifacts that could reduce the diagnostic value of dental radiographs. This phenomenon has been reported through various case reports. However, its effect on radiographic image quality has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of image processing on the quality of dental digital radiographs using the most common type of filter; sharpening. Four imaging modalities (2 CMOS, 1 PSP, 1 conventional film) were used to radiograph a DDQA imaging phantom (Digital Dental Quality Assurance phantom) and to create a flat field radiograph. Contrast resolution, spatial resolution, dynamic range and radiographic noise were assessed for image quality. “Uberschwinger” or overshoot artifact was also assessed. Each image was sharpened and then highly sharpened. Images were compared using Friedman's two-way nonparametric ANOVA. Image quality with regards to noise and resolution were significantly affected by image sharpening. All modalities saw an increase in overshoot artifact when using any level of sharpening. This degree of image sharpening creates artifacts that can be misinterpreted. While image sharpening significantly affects spatial resolution, no significant effect was seen on dynamic range or contrast resolution.
","abstract_html":"<p>There is evidence that capture and processing of the digital radiographic images may contain artifacts that could reduce the diagnostic value of dental radiographs. This phenomenon has been reported through various case reports. However, its effect on radiographic image quality has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of image processing on the quality of dental digital radiographs using the most common type of filter; sharpening. Four imaging modalities (2 CMOS, 1 PSP, 1 conventional film) were used to radiograph a DDQA imaging phantom (Digital Dental Quality Assurance phantom) and to create a flat field radiograph. Contrast resolution, spatial resolution, dynamic range and radiographic noise were assessed for image quality. “Uberschwinger” or overshoot artifact was also assessed. Each image was sharpened and then highly sharpened. Images were compared using Friedman's two-way nonparametric ANOVA. Image quality with regards to noise and resolution were significantly affected by image sharpening. All modalities saw an increase in overshoot artifact when using any level of sharpening. This degree of image sharpening creates artifacts that can be misinterpreted. While image sharpening significantly affects spatial resolution, no significant effect was seen on dynamic range or contrast resolution.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Clark, Jefferson Lee"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Prosthodontics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Kattadiyil, Mathew T.","Abramovitch, Kenneth","Rice, Dwight D.","Wadhwani, Chandur P."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-06-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-06-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:45Z","subjects":["Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Prosthodontics and Prosthodontology","Prosthodontics; Radiography; Dental - Methods;","Radiographic Image Quality; Imaging Modalities;"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/449","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Kattadiyil, Mathew T.","Abramovitch, Kenneth","Rice, Dwight D.","Wadhwani, Chandur P."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Clark, Jefferson Lee"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Prosthodontics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Prosthodontics and Prosthodontology","Prosthodontics; Radiography; Dental - Methods;","Radiographic Image Quality; Imaging Modalities;"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/449"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["There is evidence that capture and processing of the digital radiographic images may contain artifacts that could reduce the diagnostic value of dental radiographs. This phenomenon has been reported through various case reports. However, its effect on radiographic image quality has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of image processing on the quality of dental digital radiographs using the most common type of filter; sharpening. Four imaging modalities (2 CMOS, 1 PSP, 1 conventional film) were used to radiograph a DDQA imaging phantom (Digital Dental Quality Assurance phantom) and to create a flat field radiograph. Contrast resolution, spatial resolution, dynamic range and radiographic noise were assessed for image quality. “Uberschwinger” or overshoot artifact was also assessed. Each image was sharpened and then highly sharpened. Images were compared using Friedman's two-way nonparametric ANOVA. Image quality with regards to noise and resolution were significantly affected by image sharpening. All modalities saw an increase in overshoot artifact when using any level of sharpening. This degree of image sharpening creates artifacts that can be misinterpreted. While image sharpening significantly affects spatial resolution, no significant effect was seen on dynamic range or contrast resolution.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Effect of Image Sharpening on Radiographic Image Quality"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Kattadiyil, Mathew T.","Abramovitch, Kenneth","Rice, Dwight D.","Wadhwani, Chandur P."],"dc:creator":["Clark, Jefferson Lee"],"dc:description.abstract":["There is evidence that capture and processing of the digital radiographic images may contain artifacts that could reduce the diagnostic value of dental radiographs. This phenomenon has been reported through various case reports. However, its effect on radiographic image quality has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of image processing on the quality of dental digital radiographs using the most common type of filter; sharpening. Four imaging modalities (2 CMOS, 1 PSP, 1 conventional film) were used to radiograph a DDQA imaging phantom (Digital Dental Quality Assurance phantom) and to create a flat field radiograph. Contrast resolution, spatial resolution, dynamic range and radiographic noise were assessed for image quality. “Uberschwinger” or overshoot artifact was also assessed. Each image was sharpened and then highly sharpened. Images were compared using Friedman's two-way nonparametric ANOVA. Image quality with regards to noise and resolution were significantly affected by image sharpening. All modalities saw an increase in overshoot artifact when using any level of sharpening. This degree of image sharpening creates artifacts that can be misinterpreted. While image sharpening significantly affects spatial resolution, no significant effect was seen on dynamic range or contrast resolution.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/449"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Prosthodontics and Prosthodontology","Prosthodontics; Radiography; Dental - Methods;","Radiographic Image Quality; Imaging Modalities;"],"dc:title":["Effect of Image Sharpening on Radiographic Image Quality"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Prosthodontics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:45Z"}