Clinical techniques to reduce sensor plate damage in PSP digital radiography

Radiographic images have been an important aid to clinical diagnosis in dentistry for many years. The recent advent of digital imaging has offered new opportunities to record and analyze radiographic data. One digital imaging system uses photo-stimulable phosphor storage plates (PSP) to record the radiographic image for scanning and transfer to a computer. These plates are similar in size and shape to traditional radiographic film but they can be reused numerous times. The main reason for replacement of the plates is damage to the phosphor layer during clinical use. While replacement is warranted when phosphor damage impedes the diagnostic process, frequent replacement of PSP plates would be expensive. This article describes 2 techniques used to aid in reducing the potential for plate damage in clinical use.