Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran
2 Dentist, Private Practice
Abstract
Statement of Problem: Occasianally, due to overexposure or overdevelopment, radiographs become darken. There is two way for imporoving the diagnostic quality of these radiographs. One is using lightening agents and the other is indirect digital radiography.Purpose: The aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic quality of dark radiographs after using lightening solutions and indirect digital radiography.Materials and Method: For this experimental study, a dentulous phantom in the department of radiology was used. With bisecting angle technique, 50 Periapical radiographs were prepared from different dentulous areas of the maxilla and mandibule. The control radiographs were prepared using standard technique. For obtaining test radiographs, the exposure time was increased by 1.5 times for each area to produce dark radiographs, The test and control radiographs were scaned and saved. The test radigraphs were lightend once with ligtening solution and then they were lightened using photoshap program. Three trained postgraduate students were assigned to evaluate the radiographs in all five groups of images by giving grades to different anatomic parts based on their qualities. The data were statistically analysed using Friedman and Wilcoxon tests.Results: There were statistically significant differences between dark radiographs and the other four groups ( p < 0.001). Diagnostic quality of dark radiographs was improved by using lightening solution or indirect digital radiography. The mean score devoted to diagnosis quality of images lightened by lightening solution was more than those by indirect digital technique.Conclusion: By using lightening solution or indirect digital radiography, the diagnostic quality of darken radiographs can be improved, so there will be no need for repetition and this will prevent patients from excess exposure to irradiation. Lightening solutions are more effetive than indirect digital technique.Key word: Indirect digital radiography, Density, Lightening solution, Periapical film
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