title: Evaluation of common operator errors in panoramic radiography in Trinidad and Tobago: a comparison of formally vs informally trained operators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the frequency of common operator errors seen on panoramic radiographs in dental private practices and in the dental hospital (taken by informally and formally trained operators, respectively) in Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand panoramic radiographs of patients over the age of 10 years were included in this study. These comprised 500 from the dental hospital and 500 from dental private practices. The radiographs were reviewed using standardized criteria to identify the most common operator errors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were only 21 (4.2%) error free radiographs in the dental private practice sample and 29 (5.80%) in the dental hospital sample. Frequencies of specific errors were significantly higher in the dental private practice sample in each category except for "Chin tipped too low" (Chi-square p < 0.05)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the need for the introduction of statutory guidelines with respect to the use of ionizing radiation in dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago and in particular, the implementation of formally assessed dedicated dental radiography training for all operators of dental X-ray equipment.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. ktlou556@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bissoon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whaites
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moze
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naidu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003813:Dentistry / Q000592:standards; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000592:standards*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago; D055815:Young Adult