IADR Abstract Archives
Evaluation of Digital Intraoral Radiographs Obtained by Dental Students: A preliminary study
Objectives: The bisecting angle technique, when taken appropriately, reduces magnification and increases image sharpness as a result of placing the film closer to the teeth than in paralleling technique. However, since the bisecting angle technique is more prone to shape distortion, paralleling technique is the main technique in practical dental radiology courses. The aim was to evaluate the quality of digital intraoral radiographs obtained using both bitewing and bisecting angle techniques by 3rd grade dental students, who were theoretically taught on paralleling, bitewing and bisecting angle techniques and had the practical experience only for the paralleling technique on dental phantom models.
Methods: The quality of digital intraoral radiographs taken with phosphor plate by 3rd year dental students was evaluated. The errors on the radiographs related with angulation of the tube head, placement and exposure of the film, and the radiographs, which needed repetition, were recorded on a form with a 4-point Likert scale. The type of the teeth were also noted.
Results: Sixty-seven digital intraoral radiographs, including 9 bitewing and 58 periapical radiographs (13 mandibular molar, 11 maxillary molar, 7 mandibular premolar, 10 maxillary premolar, 2 maxillary canine, 8 maxillary incisor, 7 mandibular incisor) were evaluated. Female students took 45 (67.2%) of the radiographs. The percentage of radiographs that needed repetition was 13.4% and the error found in all repeated radiographs was related to positioning of the film, including the visibility of the apex. On bitewing radiographs the most prominent error was horizontal angulation error. None of the bitewing radiographs needed repetition. In 19 (28.3%) of the radiographs cone-cut was observed. On 20 (29.8%) of the radiographs vertical, on 14 (20.9%) of the radiographs horizontal angulation error was detected. Overall rate of angulation error was found to be 40.3%.
Conclusions: The need for repetition of periapical radiographs taken by 3rd grade dental students seems to be high. Dental curriculum should be revised, so that the practical courses including bisecting angle technique as well as paralleling technique was taught both theoretically and practically. Further studies with larger samples are required in order to draw a conclusion.
Methods: The quality of digital intraoral radiographs taken with phosphor plate by 3rd year dental students was evaluated. The errors on the radiographs related with angulation of the tube head, placement and exposure of the film, and the radiographs, which needed repetition, were recorded on a form with a 4-point Likert scale. The type of the teeth were also noted.
Results: Sixty-seven digital intraoral radiographs, including 9 bitewing and 58 periapical radiographs (13 mandibular molar, 11 maxillary molar, 7 mandibular premolar, 10 maxillary premolar, 2 maxillary canine, 8 maxillary incisor, 7 mandibular incisor) were evaluated. Female students took 45 (67.2%) of the radiographs. The percentage of radiographs that needed repetition was 13.4% and the error found in all repeated radiographs was related to positioning of the film, including the visibility of the apex. On bitewing radiographs the most prominent error was horizontal angulation error. None of the bitewing radiographs needed repetition. In 19 (28.3%) of the radiographs cone-cut was observed. On 20 (29.8%) of the radiographs vertical, on 14 (20.9%) of the radiographs horizontal angulation error was detected. Overall rate of angulation error was found to be 40.3%.
Conclusions: The need for repetition of periapical radiographs taken by 3rd grade dental students seems to be high. Dental curriculum should be revised, so that the practical courses including bisecting angle technique as well as paralleling technique was taught both theoretically and practically. Further studies with larger samples are required in order to draw a conclusion.