Utilization of rectangular collimation in dental hygiene programs in the United States

The use of rectangular collimation during dental radiographic exposure decreases the patient effective dose while improving image quality. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which rectangular collimation is being taught in the didactic and laboratory portions of dental radiology courses in dental hygiene education programs. This study also assessed the extent to which rectangular collimation is being used during patient care in dental hygiene programs and identified barriers to its use.

Ethics approval was received (HRPO #23-234) in July 2023. A descriptive survey was emailed to 311 United States accredited entry-level dental hygiene program directors. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and percentages, were used to summarize findings.

Seventy-one responses were received for a response rate of 23%. Results showed that 96% of programs teach rectangular collimation in the didactic portion of the radiology course; 41% teach this technique in the laboratory portion. Only 25% reported using a rectangular collimation device during patient care while 55% stated a "concern for increased occurrence of cone cuts, resulting in retakes" as the primary reason for not using a rectangular collimation device during radiation exposure.

Although use of rectangular collimation as a patient dose-reduction strategy is taught in 96% of responding dental hygiene programs, concern for retakes was the primary reason students receive limited clinical experience in this technique. Applying learned radiographic techniques clinically could encourage dental hygiene students to continue using rectangular collimation devices after graduation, which would be beneficial for patients.