Assessment of Diagnostic Quality and Acceptance of Bitewing Radiography Using Film Holder and Loop in 6-8 Year Old Children

Bite wing radiographs are indicated in children with closed posterior contacts. Given the fact that nowadays bitewing radiographs are taken using both paper loop and film holder, the aim of this study is the evaluation of acceptance and diagnostic quality of two methods. This study is a sort of diagnostic accuracy test that was performed on 20 6-8 year old children referring to Babol Dental School. Forty posterior bitewing radiographs were taken including 20 radiographs using film holder and 20 radiographs using paper loop. Di-agnostic quality of radiographs was assessed ac-cording to the film coverage, proximal overlap and observation of alveolar bone crest. Accep-tance was evaluated according to the feeling expressed by children about the radiographic experience. Data was processed by SPSS statistical software and McNemar test. Film coverage, proximal overlap and observation of alveolar bone crest were acceptable in all radiographs taken by film holder. Film coverage and observation of alveolar bone crest in upper second primary molar were acceptable in 70% and 65% of the radiographs taken by paper loop respectively; that were significantly different with film holder group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the acceptance of the methods. Bitewing radiograph with film holder produced adequate radiographs for almost all parameters and was well tolerated by children.