A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs

Abstract Purpose Numerous studies have investigated the use of convolutional neural network (CNN) models for detecting periapical lesions(PLs). However, limited research has focused on evaluating their potential in assisting clinicians with diagnosis. This study aims to utilize two deep learning(DL)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jian Liu, Chaoran Jin, Xiaolan Wang, Kexu Pan, Zhuoyang Li, Xinxuan Yi, Yu Shao, Xiaodong Sun, Xijiao Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06104-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850242841794576384
author Jian Liu
Chaoran Jin
Xiaolan Wang
Kexu Pan
Zhuoyang Li
Xinxuan Yi
Yu Shao
Xiaodong Sun
Xijiao Yu
author_facet Jian Liu
Chaoran Jin
Xiaolan Wang
Kexu Pan
Zhuoyang Li
Xinxuan Yi
Yu Shao
Xiaodong Sun
Xijiao Yu
author_sort Jian Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose Numerous studies have investigated the use of convolutional neural network (CNN) models for detecting periapical lesions(PLs). However, limited research has focused on evaluating their potential in assisting clinicians with diagnosis. This study aims to utilize two deep learning(DL) models, ConvNeXt and ResNet34, to aid novice dentists in the detection of PLs on periapical radiographs (PRs). By assessing the diagnostic support provided by these models, this research seeks to promote the clinical application of DL in dentistry. Materials and methods In this study, 1,305 PRs were gathered and then split into a training set of 1,044 images and a validation set of 261 images, following an 80/20 ratio. The model’s effectiveness was assessed using various measures, including precision, sensitivity, F1 score, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve (AUC). To evaluate the impact of the model on diagnostic performance by novice dentists, we used an additional set of 800 individual teeth PRs, which were not included in the training or validation sets. The diagnostic performance and time of three novice dentists were measured both with and without model assistance. Results The precision of ConvNeXt was 85.93%, with an F1 score of 0.92, accuracy of 91.25%, sensitivity of 98.49%, specificity of 84.11%, and an AUC of 0.9693, outperforming ResNet34 across all metrics. In comparison, ResNet34 achieved a precision of 83.08%, an F1 score of 0.84, accuracy of 81.63%, sensitivity of 84.38%, specificity of 78.13%, and an AUC of 0.8988. In the model-assisted diagnosis phase, both ConvNeXt and ResNet34 improved the diagnostic performance of novice dentists. With the help of ConvNeXt, the average AUC of three dentists increased from 0.88 to 0.94, while with ResNet34, the average AUC of the three dentists improved from 0.88 to 0.91. ConvNeXt performed better than ResNet34 (p < 0.05). Additionally, ConvNeXt reduced the average diagnostic time of the three dentists from 178.8 min to 141.9 min, while ResNet34 reduced the average diagnostic time from 178.8 min to 153.6 min. Conclusion ConvNeXt significantly improved the diagnostic performance of novice dentists and reduced the time required for diagnosis, thereby enhancing clinical efficiency in both diagnosis and treatment. This model shows potential for application in dental clinics or educational institutions where experienced specialists are limited, but there is a large presence of novice, less-experienced dentists.
format Article
id doaj-art-a961f079c8ec4972aaf45ba1c9faba40
institution OA Journals
issn 1472-6831
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Oral Health
spelling doaj-art-a961f079c8ec4972aaf45ba1c9faba402025-08-20T02:00:10ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-05-012511910.1186/s12903-025-06104-0A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographsJian Liu0Chaoran Jin1Xiaolan Wang2Kexu Pan3Zhuoyang Li4Xinxuan Yi5Yu Shao6Xiaodong Sun7Xijiao Yu8School of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversityShandong Xintai Huizhi Health and Medical Big Data Co., Ltd.Shungeng Branch, Central Laboratory, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan Key Laboratory of oral tissue regeneration, Shandong Provincial Health Commission Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Tissue RegenerationSchool of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical UniversityAbstract Purpose Numerous studies have investigated the use of convolutional neural network (CNN) models for detecting periapical lesions(PLs). However, limited research has focused on evaluating their potential in assisting clinicians with diagnosis. This study aims to utilize two deep learning(DL) models, ConvNeXt and ResNet34, to aid novice dentists in the detection of PLs on periapical radiographs (PRs). By assessing the diagnostic support provided by these models, this research seeks to promote the clinical application of DL in dentistry. Materials and methods In this study, 1,305 PRs were gathered and then split into a training set of 1,044 images and a validation set of 261 images, following an 80/20 ratio. The model’s effectiveness was assessed using various measures, including precision, sensitivity, F1 score, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve (AUC). To evaluate the impact of the model on diagnostic performance by novice dentists, we used an additional set of 800 individual teeth PRs, which were not included in the training or validation sets. The diagnostic performance and time of three novice dentists were measured both with and without model assistance. Results The precision of ConvNeXt was 85.93%, with an F1 score of 0.92, accuracy of 91.25%, sensitivity of 98.49%, specificity of 84.11%, and an AUC of 0.9693, outperforming ResNet34 across all metrics. In comparison, ResNet34 achieved a precision of 83.08%, an F1 score of 0.84, accuracy of 81.63%, sensitivity of 84.38%, specificity of 78.13%, and an AUC of 0.8988. In the model-assisted diagnosis phase, both ConvNeXt and ResNet34 improved the diagnostic performance of novice dentists. With the help of ConvNeXt, the average AUC of three dentists increased from 0.88 to 0.94, while with ResNet34, the average AUC of the three dentists improved from 0.88 to 0.91. ConvNeXt performed better than ResNet34 (p < 0.05). Additionally, ConvNeXt reduced the average diagnostic time of the three dentists from 178.8 min to 141.9 min, while ResNet34 reduced the average diagnostic time from 178.8 min to 153.6 min. Conclusion ConvNeXt significantly improved the diagnostic performance of novice dentists and reduced the time required for diagnosis, thereby enhancing clinical efficiency in both diagnosis and treatment. This model shows potential for application in dental clinics or educational institutions where experienced specialists are limited, but there is a large presence of novice, less-experienced dentists.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06104-0ConvNeXtResNet34Deep learningPeriapical radiographsPeriapical lesion
spellingShingle Jian Liu
Chaoran Jin
Xiaolan Wang
Kexu Pan
Zhuoyang Li
Xinxuan Yi
Yu Shao
Xiaodong Sun
Xijiao Yu
A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
BMC Oral Health
ConvNeXt
ResNet34
Deep learning
Periapical radiographs
Periapical lesion
title A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
title_full A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
title_fullStr A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
title_full_unstemmed A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
title_short A comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
title_sort comparative analysis of deep learning models for assisting in the diagnosis of periapical lesions in periapical radiographs
topic ConvNeXt
ResNet34
Deep learning
Periapical radiographs
Periapical lesion
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06104-0
work_keys_str_mv AT jianliu acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT chaoranjin acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xiaolanwang acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT kexupan acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT zhuoyangli acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xinxuanyi acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT yushao acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xiaodongsun acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xijiaoyu acomparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT jianliu comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT chaoranjin comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xiaolanwang comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT kexupan comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT zhuoyangli comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xinxuanyi comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT yushao comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xiaodongsun comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs
AT xijiaoyu comparativeanalysisofdeeplearningmodelsforassistinginthediagnosisofperiapicallesionsinperiapicalradiographs