Digital radiograph
Digital radiography is the latest
advancement in dental imaging.
It is slowly being adopted by the dental
profession
Digital imaging incorporates computer
technology in the capture, display,
enhancement, and storage of direct
radiographic images
Digital imaging is the result of X-ray
interaction with electrons in electronic
sensor pixels (picture elements).
Conversion of analog data to digital data,
computer processing, and display of the
visible image on a computer screen.
It is cassette less system
Can be classified into
1- computer radiographs/CR/
2- digital radiographs /DR/
Computer radiography /CR
Used phosphor plate/ imaging plate
Used PSP/ photostimulable phosphor/
detector
Used cassette holder
Reading the image by using laser scanner,
Lastly display the image on a computer.
Digital radiograph /DR
It improves the following
Enhancement of the image – sharpness,
contrast, magnification ,
3-D reconstruction
Large storage capacity
Time saving
Reduce radiation exposure
Friendly environment
Classified in to
1- indirect
2- direct
DR
It is casteless system
It used TFT/CCD
Needs new equipment installation
Indirect DR
It uses cesium iodide as x ray scintillator
Uses amorphous silicon photodiode to
capture light and convert it to electrical
signal
Direct digital radiograph /DDR
Uses micro plated electrode
Uses amorphous selenium photoconductor
Steps of DDR
Sensor placed in pts mouth
Exposed to radiation
Sensor captured radiographic image
Transmit image to a computer monitor
Image appears on a screen with in seconds
Conventional radiography VS digital
radiography
Conventional
Digital radiograph
radiograph
Used chemical
No chemicals
processing. needed
Used dark room . Immediately used
More radiation by monitor
exposure Used computer
software for image
enhancement
Less radiation
Used psp/ccd
Types of digital imaging detector
1 = solid state
Charged couple detector /CCD
Complementary metal oxide semi
conductor / COSM
Flat panel detector /FPD
2. Photostimulable phosphor
plate/ PSP
Dental radiograph
Instructor
Dr Abduselam
Classification of dental radiograph
1. Intra oral radiograph
- Periapical
- bitewings
- occlusal
2. Extra oral radiograph
- panoramic
- cephalometric
- CBCT
- sialography
Importance of dental
radiograph
To detect dental caries
To assess periodontal conditions
To assess alveolar bone condition
To assess tooth anomaly
To monitor orthodontic procedures
To identify dental trauma
To detect cystic lesion of oral cavity
To measure TMJ condition and assess the
maxillary and mandible bone
Guideline for patient care
The pt should comfortable on dental chair
Dentures or orthodontic appliance should be
remove
A protective lead thyroid collar should be
used
Intra oral film packets should position
carefully in order to prevent trauma of soft
tissue.
Intra-oral radiographic techniques:
Guidelines for ordering radiographs:
1. Make radiographs only after a proper clinical examinations.
2. Order only those radiographs that directly benefit the patient in term of diagnosis
&treatment.
3. Use the least amount of radiation exposure necessary to generate
an acceptable view of the imaged area.
Ideal radiographic projection:
The objective of radiography in dentistry is a cast shadow of dental structures,such away
that these shadows will be most informative ..ideal radiograph demonstrate certain image
qualities..which are ;
1. An image that's sharp.
2. An image that's shaped-like the object.
3. An image that's of the same size as the object.
To achieve the best possible result..the following five principles pertaining to
projection geometry should be observed during film exposue:
1. First rule: the source of radiation should
be as small as possible
2. Second rule: the distance from the
radiation source to the object should be as
long as possible.
3. third rule: the distance from the object to
the recording surface on which the shadow
is cast should be as short as possible.
4. fourth rule: the object & the recording
surface should be parallel.
5. fifth rule: the radiation should strike both
the object & the recording surface at right
angles..
Film size
Intra oral film manufactured in five size
Sixe 0 22 X 35 mm Used for children
Size 1 24 X 40 mm Used Anterior
teeth for adults
Size 2 (standard 31 X 41 mm used to anterior
film ) and posterior
teeth for adults
Size 3 27 X 54 mm Used to all
posterior teeth
Size 4 57 X 76 mm Used to upper
and lower jaw
Image characteristics
Density
Contrast
Resolution
Contrast
Density
Spatial resolution
RADIOGRAPHIC ERRORS AND ARTIFACTS
Quality Evaluation Criteria
1. All radiographs must have acceptable image
(details, definition, density & contrast).
2. All crowns and roots including apices are fully
depicted together with interproximal alveolar
crests, tooth contact areas, and surrounding apical
bone regions.
3. Image of all teeth and other structures are
shown in proper relative size and contour with
minimal distortion and without overlapping
images, where anatomically possible.
4. The radiograph is free from film handling and
processing errors.
The dental radiographer must remember
that only diagnostic images are useful. A
diagnostic dental image is one that has
been properly placed, exposed, processed
or retrieved; errors in any one of these
areas may result in nondiagnostic images.
In many instances, nondiagnostic images
must be retaken
Types of Artifacts
Technique Artifacts.
Exposure Artifacts.
Processing Artifacts.
Technical artifact
Patient Preparation Errors:
Radiopaque artifact
Appearance: as radiopaque artifact
superimposed over the dental image.
Cause : Dental appliances left in the mouth
during exposure, jewelry & eye glasses.
Correction : all this items should be removed
before placing of the film.
Appearance: Blurred image appears on
the film.
Cause:
1.The patient move during exposure of the
film.
2.Movement of the tube.
3. Movement of the film.
Correction :
stabilize the patients head, tube, and film,
before exposing the radiograph
Techniques artifact
Apices cut off
The crown of the tooth not shown
Dot artifact
Double image
Tongue or finger artifact
overlapping error – incorrect horizontal
angulations
Shape distortion – vertical angulations is
excessive / shortening
- vertical angulations is decreased
/elongation
Con cut - related to PID position
Angulation is a term used to describe
the alignment of the central ray of the x-
ray beam in the horizontal and vertical
planes. Angulation can be varied by moving
the position indicating device (PID) in either
a horizontal or a vertical direction.
Horizontal angulation refers to the
positioning of the PID in a horizontal, or
side-to-side, plane. Vertical angulation
refers to the positioning of the PID in a
vertical, or up-and-down,plane.
Exposure factor and time problems
over exposure
under exposure
Unexposed Receptor
Receptor. This error may occur with digital
sensors (direct or indirect) or film.
Appearance. When using film, the image
appears clear
When using a digital sensor, the image
appears blank or white with no structures
recorded
Cause - The receptor was not exposed to x-
radiation. With
film or sensors, causes include failure to turn
on the x-ray
machine, electrical failure, x-ray unit
malfunction, or failure to
align the PID over the receptor. With some
digital imaging
systems, a xed time interval exists during
which the receptor
must be exposed, or the system “times out.” If
the exposure does not take place within that
fixed time interval, no exposure of the
receptor occurs and no image is produced.
Overexposed Receptor
Receptor - This error may occur with digital
sensors (direct or indirect) or film.
Appearance. The image appears dark or high in
density
Cause. The receptor was exposed to too much
radiation.
An overexposed image results from excessive
exposure
time, kilovoltage, or milliamperage, or a
combination of these
factors. Too much exposure time is the most
common cause of
overexposure.
Underexposed Receptor
Receptor. This error may occur with digital
sensors (direct or indirect) or film.
Appearance. The image appears light or low in
density The receptor was exposed to too little
radiation.
Cause. The receptor was exposed to too little
radiation.
An underexposed image results from
inadequate exposure time, kilovoltage, or
milliamperage, or a combination of these
factors.
Too little exposure time is the most common
cause of
underexposure.
Processing artifact
Time and temperature errors.
Chemical contamination errors.
Film handling errors.
Lighting errors.
