title: Radiopacity of composite dental materials using a digital X-ray system.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiopacity of 32 current dental composite materials with digital technique. Digital radiographs with CCD sensor along with an aluminum step wedge, 1-mm-thick tooth slice and 1mm thick composite specimen were taken in five different combinations of exposition/voltage. The radiopacity in pixels was determined using Digora 2.6. software. The equivalent in thickness of aluminum for each material was then calculated from the calibration curve. 74.9% of all tested materials in all exposure combinations had radiopacity between 2 mm and 4 mm aluminum equivalent. The radiopacity of composites ranged from 0.61 mm Al (Gradia Direct Anterior) to 4.78 mm Al (Te-Econom). The average radiopacity for enamel and dentine was 2.05 and 1.11 mm Al. The use of digital technique for radiopacity is an easy, reliable, fast and precise way to analyze different dental materials. Most of the tested composite materials fulfill the requested criteria for radiopacity with a few exceptions.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gunduliceva 5, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. dukic@sfzg.hr
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dukic
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delija
authors.forename: Doria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Derossi
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dadic
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D002138:Calibration; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D063225:Organically Modified Ceramics; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003287:Contrast Media; D003764:Dental Materials; D063225:Organically Modified Ceramics; D012821:Silanes; D000535:Aluminum