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Published on: February 23, 2024
Comparison of technical errors in pediatric bitewing radiographs acquired with round vs rectangular collimation
Richard E Campbell1, Dave Anderson1, Keith Strauss2
1University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Objective:
To compare technical errors in bitewing radiographs acquired with round vs rectangular collimation in a hospital-based pediatric dentistry training program.
Study Design:
A retrospective chart review was conducted of 176 digital bitewing radiographs exposed with round collimation and 106 exposed with rectangular collimation. The number of re-exposures was calculated, and errors in central ray entry (CRE; "cone cuts"), horizontal and vertical positioning, and angulation were measured.
Results:
There were no greater re-exposures but significantly more CRE errors with rectangular collimation (21.7%; n = 23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.9%-30.0%) than with round collimation (3.4%; n = 6; 95% CI, 0.7%-6.1%). CRE error location, horizontal positioning errors, and size of horizontal overlapped contacts were statistically different but not clinically important.
Conclusions:
Use of rectangular collimation resulted in increased CRE errors but no other clinically significant problems. This technique should be used to reduce radiation exposure to patients.
