Sensitometric evaluation of four dental X-ray films using five processing solutions.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitometric properties of four dental films: Ektaspeed Plus and Ultra-speed (Kodak Eastman Co, Rochester, USA) and new and previous Dentus M2 (Agfa-Gevaert, Mortsel, Belgium) in five different processing solutions.


METHODS
Characteristic curves were constructed for four dental X-ray films using five different processing solutions. All films were processed manually in three sets of chemicals for manual processing: Agfa (Heraeus Kulzer, Dormagen, Germany), Kodak (Kodak-Pathé, Paris, France) and Demat (Viscopac, Athens, Greece) and two sets of chemicals for automatic processing: Dürr XR and Periomat (Dürr Dental, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany). Analysis of variance and regression analysis was performed to examine the factors significantly affecting film density.


RESULTS
The new Dentus M2 film had comparable gradient, higher speed and lower base-plus-fog than its predecessor. It had comparable speed with Ektaspeed Plus in chemicals for automatic processing. All films had a higher speed and lower gradient when processed in the chemicals for automatic processing. The highest film speed was achieved using Dürr XR chemicals.


CONCLUSIONS
The new Agfa Dentus M2 film is an E-speed film and can be considered an alternative to Ektaspeed Plus: both can be recommended for use in dental practice as they contribute to dose reduction.
Syriopoulos
K
K
Department of Oral Radiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands.
Velders
X L
XL
Sanderink
G C
GC
van Ginkel
F C
FC
van der Stelt
P F
PF
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012996:Solutions; D013679:Technology, Radiologic; D014962:X-Ray Film
D012996:Solutions