Signal-to-noise ratios of 6 intraoral digital sensors.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 6 intraoral direct digital sensors. The sensors were Visualix 1, Visualix 2, DenOptix, Computed Dental Radiography (CDR), CDR APS, and Digora.


METHODS
The sensors were exposed by using a dental x-ray machine operating at 50 kV, 8 mA and various exposure times. The phantom used was a hole measuring 1 mm in diameter and 1.25 mm in depth, drilled in a 10-mm-thick aluminum block. Digital images were transferred as 8-bit tagged image file format files and analyzed by using a personal computer.


CONCLUSIONS
SNR values increased up to a maximum value at a certain exposure level and then, depending on the system, either decreased or maintained a high level with increased exposure. The Digora system produced the highest SNR values over a large exposure range, whereas the Visualix 2 and DenOptix systems produced the lowest SNR values. The 2 CDR sensors produced rather high SNRs but over a very small exposure range.
Attaelmanan
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AG
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg University, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. gaffar@odontologi.gu.se
Borg
E
E
Gröndahl
H G
HG
D000465:Algorithms; D000535:Aluminum; D016477:Artifacts; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
D000535:Aluminum