title: An aiming device for an extraoral radiographic technique.
abstract: To assist certain patient populations who are unable to tolerate intraoral films and/or sensors during endodontic therapy, an alternative technique (extraoral film placement) has been innovated by Newman and Friedman (2003). In this study, we devise and test a film/sensor-beam alignment aiming device for taking a periapical radiograph using this extraoral radiographic technique. An instrument is assembled from the following components: (1) two locator rings for bite-wing radiography, (2) two metal supporting indicator rods for bite-wing radiography, (3) a bite block for horizontal bite-wing radiography, and (4) a rubber tube of about 2 cm in length. Using our newly-devised aiming device to take periapical radiographs using the extraoral technique, appropriate images of the left upper and right lower molar areas for a series of 12 adult volunteers were successfully obtained. Angulation of the x-ray cone, with reference to the horizontal plane, was -20 degrees to -30 degrees and -10 degrees to -15 degrees for the upper and lower teeth, respectively. This study therefore shows that appropriate images can be easily obtained using this aiming device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaosiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shui-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hui-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yu-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yuk-Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation*