Radiation dose and image quality in pediatric bitewing imaging.

Introduction: Bitewing examinations are used to examine the pediatric dental status. The aim of this study was to compare the image quality and radiation dose between two different X-ray systems used for pediatric bitewing imaging.

Materials and methods: Data were obtained from both pediatric in vivo bitewing studies and phantom studies. Two X-ray systems were used: Trophy CCX digital (TCCX) (Trophy Irix 70, Marne-la-Vallee, France) and Planmeca Pro X (PPX) (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland). An Unfors dosimeter (Unfors EDD-30, Billdal, Sweden) was used to measure the skin dose. Image quality was evaluated blindly by three experienced dentists using a Likert scale of 1-5 based on the visual representation of the anatomical structures with emphasis on caries.

Results: The highest scoring in vivo bitewing images were obtained with TCCX, but the skin dose was 36% higher (mean 3029 ± 613 μGy) and 113% higher (mean 1364 ± 276 μGy) with standard settings than with compared to PPX. The evaluation of image quality revealed a higher median value for all ratings of TCCX compared to PPX for both the patient and phantom studies, meaning that the images of TCCX were rated as higher quality than the images from PPX. No correlation was found between the median score and the skin dose or between the median score and the exposure times.

Conclusion: A significant difference in radiation dose and image quality was found between TCCX and PPX in bitewing imaging. TCCX generally produced higher doses and better graded images, although all images were suitable for diagnosis.