Criteria for the assessment of intrinsic performances of digital radiographic intraoral sensors.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: In sensor-based dental digital radiographic imaging systems, it should be possible to assess the intrinsic performance of the sensor by means of objective criteria, independent of the related electronic hardware and image-treatment software. METHODS: Six criteria are presented and discussed for the objective assessment and quantification of the intrinsic performance of intraoral sensors for dental digital radiography, independent of the characteristics of the subsequent image-treatment software. The criteria are signal-to-noise ratio, blooming, sensitivity, spatial uniformity, modulation transfer function, and geometric deformations. These criteria have been used to evaluate the Visualix sensor. RESULTS: For each criterion, a series of numerical data are presented as graphs. CONCLUSION: A method is proposed for objective assessment of radiographic sensors that makes it possible to compare sensors with each other and with conventional radiographs. The criteria proposed also increase understanding of digital diagnostic images and improve their clinical use.