Densitometric evaluation of seven dental film processing solutions

In order to determine the effect of 7 dental film processing solutions on the quality of the radiographic image, an aluminium step-wedge phantom was exposed, using Agfa Dentus M2, speed group D, intra-oral x-ray films. The exposures were done under standardized conditions. Processing was carried out, using each of the 7 processing solutions, namely Agfa, Dürr, EBX, Kolchem, MEMS, Premier and Pro-tech strictly in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. After the processed films were subjected to densitometric evaluation, a step-wedge curve was drawn for each processing solution. The data pertaining to the radiographic contrast and relative speed values were calculated from the step-wedge curve and, together with the base plus fog values, were tabulated. Kolchem produced the highest radiographic contrast, followed closely by MEMS and Dürr. The relative film speed was almost identical for Kolchem, MEMS and Dürr. Regarding the base plus fog values, all 7 processing solutions were within the acceptable limit of 0.25.