Accuracy in positioning of dental X-ray images - A comparative study of a portable X-ray device and a wall-mounted device

Julian Lommen; Lara Schorn; Julia Nitschke; Christoph Sproll; Uwe Zeller; Norbert R Kübler; Jörg Handschel; Henrik Holtmann

doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2021.09.018

Accuracy in positioning of dental X-ray images - A comparative study of a portable X-ray device and a wall-mounted device

Saudi Dent J. 2021 Dec;33(8):884-889. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2021.09.018. Epub 2021 Sep 20.

Authors

Julian Lommen¹, Lara Schorn¹, Julia Nitschke², Christoph Sproll¹, Uwe Zeller³, Norbert R Kübler¹, Jörg Handschel⁴, Henrik Holtmann⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral-, Maxillo- and Plastic Facial Surgery, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Kliniken Maria Hilf, Viersener Straße 450, 41063 Mönchengladbach, Germany.
³ Consulting Engineer for the Study Design and Regulatory Aspects, Rissegger Steige 139, 88400 Biberach, Germany.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kaiserteich Medical Center, Reichstr. 59, 40217 Duesseldorf, Germany.
⁵ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ev. Krankenhaus Bethesda, Ludwig-Weber-Straße 15, 41061 Mönchengladbach, Germany.

Abstract

Introduction: The benefits of portable dental X-ray devices remain controversially debated. This study aimed to compare the accuracy in positioning dental X-ray images using handheld (Nomad Pro 2) and wall-mounted (Heliodent Plus) X-ray devices.

Materials and methods: Radiographical imaging was exercised on a maxillofacial phantom using the handheld dental X-ray device Nomad Pro 2 (Kavo Kerr, Biberach, Germany) and the wall-mounted dental X-ray device Heliodent Plus (Sirona Dental Systems, Bensheim, Germany). Accuracy of device positioning (i.e., centeredness and perpendicularity) was measured as horizontal and vertical deviation (pixels and millimeters) from a centrally positioned crosshair. The reproducibility of the results was tested for 80 images per device and operator. IBM SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analyses.

Results: Centeredness of produced dental X-rays was significantly better for the wall-mounted device than for the handheld device in both deviation from the x-axis (p = 0.042) and y-axis (p = 0.020). The perpendicularity of the produced dental X-rays was significantly better for the handheld device than for the wall-mounted device for both horizontal (p < 0.001) and vertical (p < 0.001) plains.

Conclusions: Handheld dental X-ray devices appear to provide a high degree of accuracy in image positioning, especially in regard to proper perpendicular image angulation.

Keywords: Dental; Handheld device; Image accuracy; Radiology; X-ray.