title: Repeat film analysis and its implications for quality assurance in dental radiology: An institutional case study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of any radiologist is to produce the highest quality diagnostic radiographs, while keeping patient exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the reasons for radiograph rejections through a repeat film analysis in an Indian dental school.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 6-month study period, a total of 9,495 intra-oral radiographs and 2339 extraoral radiographs taken in the Radiology Department were subjected to repeat film analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  SPSS Version 16. Descriptive analysis used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the repeat rates were 7.1% and 5.86% for intraoral and extraoral radiographs, respectively. Among the causes for errors reported, positioning error (38.7%) was the most common, followed by improper angulations (26.1%), and improper film placement (11.2%) for intra-oral radiographs. The study found that the maximum frequency of repeats among extraoral radiographs was for panoramic radiographs (49%) followed by lateral cephalogram (33%), and paranasal sinus view (14%). It was also observed that repeat rate of intraoral radiographs was highest for internees (44.7%), and undergraduate students (28.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study pointed to a need for more targeted interventions to achieve the goal of keeping patient exposure ALARA in a dental school setting.
authors: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors: Shruthi
authors: S
authors: Acharya
authors: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors: Keerthilatha M
authors: KM
authors: Pai
authors: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors: Shashidhar
authors: S
authors: Acharya
keywords: Dental radiology; dental school; quality assurance; repeat/reject rate