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Survey Results

The X-Ray Section continuously keeps track of statewide exposure trends to enhance the highest quality radiographs at the lowest possible exposure.  We conduct surveys to accurately assess x-ray exposures in the real world.  Please see the links below.

• Intra-Oral Digital Dental Radiography

• STEP Testing

Intra-Oral Digital Dental Radiography Survey Results - June 2002

During our visits to dental offices throughout Washington State, we measure the typical periapical and bitewing patient exposures currently used in these offices. Of course, these exposures will vary according to the kVp (and mAs) being used, the quality of the film processing, and the speed of the film being used (Ultraspeed “D,” Ektaspeed “E,” and the new F-speed Insight (the majority of dentists use Kodak film). Through the period January 2000 - March 2002, we saw more and more digital imaging (Schick, Trophy, Siemens Sirona, etc) and we measured the patient exposure resulting from the use of this relatively new technology too.  We have data from 116 X-ray units. The purpose of this report is to give those results to you and to other interested individuals. Sometimes, dental personnel may not be able to tell you, as a patient, what the typical exposure is for a bitewing or periapical, so this data may help.

Just for reference purposes, the average patient exposure with the use of D-speed film is around 200 mR (milliRoentgens) at 90 kVp and around 350 mR at 65 or 70 kVp. For E-speed film, these figures drop to about half, and for Insight F-speed film, a bit further, but with poor processing (which exists in many dental offices), the F-speed exposure can probably only drop to the equivalent of the E-speed one (or else the films will be too light). Here are our results for our measurements for digital imaging, broken down by kVp, although you will see that kVp is not a strong influence at all (as it is with film):

*       Some of these x-ray units were not exposure optimized and produced higher exposures than necessary for digital imaging.

Conclusions:

Patient exposure using digital dental intraoral systems is roughly 2 to 5 times LOWER than for traditional D-speed film.

Not all digital dental x-ray systems are set up to deliver the advertised reduction in exposure. We measured higher than necessary exposures on several units.

There was a significant difference in exposure between the two major types of digital imaging formats (direct capture sensor or sensor on a wire versus the charged plate sensor capture technology with laser image processor/reader.)

We will continue to record the patient exposure data from film and digital x-ray systems, and further refine our data collection to record the manufacturer of the sensor system. Please contact Kelly Cameron, 509-456-3289 for details and questions.

Sensitometric Testing for Evaluation of Processors - STEP Testing

This is a survey of automatic film processors statewide.  The study was performed by x-ray staff on x-ray film processor compliance STEP Testing (MS Word, 56KB) By Kelly Cameron

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Washington State Department of Health

Office of Radiation Protection                                       Physical Address:
P.O. Box 47827                                                            111 Israel Road SE, TC2
Olympia, Washington 98504-7827                                  Tumwater, Washington 98501
(360) 236-3300

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Last Update : 04/06/2007 10:52 AM