[The most frequent mistakes in intraoral radiography]

The authors analysed 2000 intra-oral radiographs that had been taken, using the bisecting technique according to the isometry rule of Cieszynski/Dieck, at an institution being typical of the ambulatory public health service during a period of 5 months. 602 (30.1%) faulty radiographs were detected. The classification of the faulty radiographs showed that 395 (65.6%) were caused by errors in projection; 116 (19.3%), by errors in the dark-room; 59 (9.8%), by errors in exposure; and 32 (5.3%), by defective equipment. Defects in the film material used in the present study were not observed. The relatively high rate of faults calls for improvements of the programs for the education and the advanced training of stomatologists and stomatological nurses, and for improvement of the radiographic technique.