title: Clinical evaluation of a prototype intraoral source x-ray system.
abstract: A prototype dental roentgenographic system which incorporates a tightly collimated intraoral x-ray source and an extraoral Polaroid film screen cassette was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Findings indicate that the detectability of artificially induced incipient enamel lesions was significantly less than that demonstrable for conventional roentgenograms produced with an extraoral source, long-cone geometry, and Kodak Ultra Speed D film. Larger lesions were found to be reliably detected by either technique. The new intraoral approach reduces the dose to the patient by possibly as much as 98 per cent and yields positive dry prints in 15 seconds. This system was clinically tested and found to be useful in endodontics and presurgical evaluation. Modifications are discussed which could reduce some of the technical problems and many of the shortcomings encountered.
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*