The quality of phosphor-plate (PSP) radiographs may decrease if the plates are exposed to ambient light between the time the image is taken and when it is scanned, according to research to be presented next month at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in San Diego.
Researchers from University Hospital Dresden examined the influence of time and the intensity of ambient light on the quality and diagnostic information of PSP-based radiographs. Using a root canal instrument and VixWin software (Gendex Dental Systems), they acquired 250 digital x-ray images of an extracted tooth on five identical PSPs and exposed them to artificial light for different times (0-960 sec) and at different intensities (from less than 50 lux [lx] to more than 300 lx).
After exposing the PSPs to 300 sec of light exposure of less than 50 lx, the researchers found no detectable change in brightness or diagnostic information. However, with light exposure of 300 lx, they detected a change in brightness of the x-ray image after 15 sec. And after 180 sec of exposure to light of 300 lx, the PSPs were completely erased, with no diagnostic information remaining.
A multivariate analysis revealed that the intensity (p = 0.0343) and the time period (p = 0.0010) of light exposure influences whether diagnostic interpretation can be achieved from a PSP-based x-ray image.
"Due to the amount of ambient light in a dental practice and the short time period leading to a change in image quality, light exposure of a PSP containing diagnostic information should be strictly avoided," the researchers concluded. They recommend using a dark room when removing the PSP from its hygienic slipcover and inserting it into the scanner.
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