The aim of this study was to investigate the level of radiopacity of glass ionomer cements and to determine the optimum level of radiopacity that is the most compatible with the radiographic diagnosis of secondary caries. The experiments were performed in two parts. In the first part, the radiopacities of 9 glass ionomer cements (FI, FII, FI-LC, FII-LC, SI, SII, Vit, B-VLC, AC) and base materials(Ultra-Blend, Zinc phoaphate cements, Cavitec, Dycal) were measured by densitometer. Then all experimental materials were divided into 5 groups based on the level of radiopacity of enamel and dentin. In the second part, class III cavities with or without secondary caries were prepared in extracted anterior teeth. The representative materials of each group with different radiopacities were inserted into each cavity. The radiographs were interpreted by 15 dentists and seconsary caries were diagnosed according to a five-point confidence rating. Sensitivity and ROC analysis were used to compare observer performance. The following results were obtained : 1. The radipacity of glass ionomer cements varied between 1.111mm Al and 6.011mm Al equivalent. 2. Among experimental materials, three materials in group I had lower radiopacity than that of dentin. The radiopacity of two materials in group II slightly exeeded that of dentin. Three materials in group III had slightly lower radiopacity than that on enamel. The radiopacity of one material in group W was slightly higher than that of enamel. Four materals in group V had the radiopacity that exeeded over 2.0mm AI equivalent to that of enamel. 3. The group IV was the highest for sensitivity and the group V was the highest for ROC area. However, no significant differences were obtained among group II, III, IV and V (P<0.05) but only group I was significantly lower(P<0.01). 4. In comparison with the observer performance for the radiographic diagnosis of secondary caries, the group II, III, IV, and V were superior to the group I (P<0.01). And so the optimum level of radiopacity to detect the secondary caries was the radiopacity that is higher than that of dentin.