Abstract

CROMBIE, K; SHAIKH, A  and  HARNEKAR, SY. An alternative extra-oral digital technique for bitewing radiography. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2018, vol.73, n.4, pp.265-267. ISSN 0375-1562.

INTRODUCTION: The intraoral technique, currently the standard method of taking bitewing radiographs, is challenging, especially in children, and in patients with limited mouth opening. OBJECTIVES: To assess an alternative, extra-oral, digital technique for bitewing radiographs. METHODS 26 patients requiring bitewing radiographs were selected seriatim. A split mouth technique was used, taking an analogue intraoral bitewing radiograph on one side, and a modified, digital, posterior, segmental pantomogram of the contralateral side. Two calibrated observers evaluated the bitewing images, using a viewing box, and assessed the digital modified posterior segmental radiographic Images, using a computer monitor. RESULTS: No statistically significant association was shown between the operators and the techniques used, i.e. it is not technique or operator sensitive. The extra-oral technique recorded perfect agreement (k=1) between the two observers for the categories of overlapping of teeth and area of coverage. For clarity of the alveolar crest there was strong agreement (k=0.8). There was perfect agreement (k=1) between the two observers for all three categories examined on the intraoral bitewing radiographs. CONCLUSION: An alternative and diagnostically accurate bitewing radiograph can be produced by modifying the patient positioning when taking a digital posterior segmental pantomogram.

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