Effect of Different Exposure Conditions and Developing Solution Concentration on the Clarity of Cervical Burnout in Bitewing Radiographs

Aims: Exposure and developing conditions can affect the occurrence of cervical burnout in bitewing radiographs which is one of the common false positive errors in these images. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of kilo voltage peak (KVP), milliampere second (mAS) and concentration of developing solution on clarity of cervical burnout in bitewing radiographs.
Study Design: It was an experimental study performed on phantom head.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, between August 2012 and June 2013.
Methodology: Seven bitewing radiographs were taken by XCP film holder from phantom premolars with different exposure conditions and same intensity. Then films were processed using processing solution with optimum concentration. Radiographic procedures were repeated twice under the same exposure conditions. In the first case, the films were processed by half of optimum concentration of developing solution. In the second case, the films were processed by the condition twice as concentrated as the optimum developing solution. Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists evaluated the clarity of cervical burnout. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann–Whitney U and Spearman’s correlation test by SPSS software (Version 11.5).
Results: This study revealed a significant effect of exposure conditions on clarity of cervical burnout (p<0.05) but there wasn’t any significant difference among tested concentrations of developing solution. Moreover, exposure conditions and cervical burnout clarity were significantly correlated. (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of lower contrast radiographs (high KVP and low mAs) can be useful for detecting proximal caries and preventing false positive errors like cervical burnout.