A quantitative analysis of dental radiography quality assurance practices among North Carolina dentists

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of compliance with dental radiography quality assurance recommendations on the part of dental practitioners in the state of North Carolina and to determine whether the age of the practice was an influential factor affecting compliance.

On-site survey inspections by state officials using measurement devices and questionnaires were used to assess x-ray machine parameters and gather information about quality assurance practices in private offices in the state of North Carolina.

There were approximately three intraoral units per facility, with an average entrance skin exposure of 267 mR per bitewing radiograph. There were no significant differences associated with the age of the practice in quality assurance practices except with respect to the type of processor used: dentists who had been in practice for more than 20 years used manual processing more frequently than those who had been in practice for less than 20 years (p = 0.001).

Most practices showed a high level of compliance with equipment function requirements. North Carolina dentists are making an effort to comply with the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology recommendations. However, the use of faster film and rectangular collimation was much less than expected. Only 9% of the participants reported using E-speed film exclusively, and only 7.33% reported using rectangular collimation.