Pediatric bitewing film holder: preschoolers' acceptance and radiographs' diagnostic quality.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a modified bitewing film holder based on preschoolers' acceptance and the diagnostic quality of radiographic images.


METHODS
Sixty-six 3- to 5-year-old children were radiographed with the modified device. Acceptance was assessed according to their behavior during the radiographic examination and to their perception of the procedure. In only the 4- and 5-year-olds, the children's perception was assessed using a faces scale. Evaluation of the images' diagnostic quality for each quadrant (considering pairs of radiographs) was based on anatomic structures usually present on bitewing radiographs.


RESULTS
During radiographic examination, 73% of the children were cooperative. As to the patients' perceptions (N = 43), 74% showed satisfaction with the radiographic examination. The diagnostic quality of radiographic images (N = 66) was adequate in more than 90% of the cases for all evaluated parameters, except for the visualization of alveolar bone crests (54%) and the absence of proximal overlapping (86%).


CONCLUSIONS
The modified bitewing film holder produced adequate radiographs for almost all parameters and was well accepted by preschoolers.
Pierro
Viviane Santos da Silva
VS
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de janeiro, Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. vivipierro@gmail.com
Barcelos
Roberta
R
de Souza
Ivete Pomarico Ribeiro
IP
Raymundo
Rubens Júnior
RJ