• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.113-124
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• 1990

For the study of the influence of kilovoltage and exposure time on radiographic density and contrast, we measured radiographic density of aluminum step wedge which composed of contiguous 8 steps wedges of 2-16㎜ thickness with densitometer. Aluminum step wedge was radiographed on Kodak ultraspeed DF-58 and Ektaspeed EP-21 film with range of 60-90 kVp and 5-60 impulse and subject contrast of aluminum step wedge with constant radiographic density and image contrast percentage without radiographic density was evaluated. Then we evaluated the film quality of teeth and their surrounding structure according to the change of kVp and exposure time by score rating method. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Radiographic density was related to the change of kilovoltage, especially in increased exposure time. 2. With constant radiographic density, subject contrast of thin aluminum step wedges was greater in low kilovolt age than high kilovoltage, but kilovolt age had not great influence on subject contrast of thick aluminum step wedge. On the other hand, radiographic density difference between 2mm and 16mm aluminum step wedge was decreased according to in- creasing kilovoltage. 3. Without constant radiographic density, image contrast percentage was decreased with increasing kilovoltage, but was not related with the change of exposure time. 4. Radiographic contrast of teeth and their surrounding structure which was taken with the range of 60-90 kVp and 6-30 impulse had not great influence on film quality.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 1993

The aim of this study was to establish reproducible method for measurements of radiopacity and to investigate the level of radiopacity of root canal sealers. The experiments were performed in two parts. In the first part, densitometric readings were performed using an aluminum step wedge as a reference at variable voltages and exposure times. Then standard curves for the aluminum step wedge were compared to comprehend the effect of voltage and exposure time. In the second part, on the basis of these results, appropriate conditions for exposure were adopted for standardized measurements of radiopacity. Under standardized set of conditions, densitometric measurements of ten root canal sealers and one gutta-percha point were performed and the levels of radiopacity referable to an equivalent thickness of aluminum were compared. The following results were obtained : 1. At 50 and 60 kVp, increasing the exposure time caused a decrease in the slope of the standard curve for the aluminum step wedge. However, at 70 kVp increasing the exposure time causing a parallel shift of the standard curve to the right. 2. At constant exposure time, increasing the voltage caused a decrease in the slope of the standard curve. 3. The radiopacity of root canal sealers and a gutta-percha point varied between 2.43 mm Al and 9.20 mm Al equivalent. 4. All the root canal sealers had radiopacities more than dentin, and the radiopacity of the gutta-percha point was approximately 5 times as much as that of dentin in terms of equivalent thickness of aluminum. 5. The AH26 had radiopacity more than the gutta-percha point, and the radiopacities of ZOE, Vitapex, Canals, Kerr PCS, Nogenol were similar to that of the gutta-percha point, and Tubliseal, Apatite II, Apatite III, Silapex were less radiopaque than the gutta-percha point.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2008

This study was performed to assess the radiopacity of a variety of canal filling and retrograde root-end filling materials according to the specification concerning root canal obturation materials. Ten materials including Gutta-percha pellets, amalgam, Fuji II LC, $Dyract^{(R)}$ AP, Super $EBA^{(R)}$, $IRM^{(R)}$, AH $26^{(R)}$, $Sealapex^{TM}$, Tubli-$Seal^{TM}$, and dentin were evaluated in this study. In the first part, densitometric reading of an each step of aluminum step wedge on occlusal film were performed at 60 kVp (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 s), 70 kVp (0.2, 0.3, 0.33 s) to decide appropriate voltage and exposure time. In the second part, ten specimens which are 5 mm in diameter and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm in thickness, were fabricated from each material studied. The specimens were radiographed simultaneously with an aluminum step wedge under decided condition (60 kVp, 0.2 s). The mean radiographic density values of the materials were transformed into radiopacity expressed equivalent thickness of aluminum (mm Al). The following results were obtained. 1. Among the various conditions including 0.2 s, 0.3 s, 0.4 s at 60 kVp and 0.2 s, 0.3 s, 0.33 s at 70 kVp, the appropriate voltage and exposure time that meet the requirement of density from 0.5 to 2.0 was 0.2 s at 60 kVp. 2. All of the materials in this study had greater radiopacity than the minimun level recommended by ISO No. 4049 standards. 3. Most of the materials had greater radiopacity than 3 mm Al requirement of ANSI/ADA specification No. 57 (2000) and ISO No. 6876 (2001) standards except for Fuji II LC and Dyract. It suggests that all experimental canal filling and retrograde root-end filling materials have a sufficient radiopacity that meet the requirement concerning root canal obturation materials except for Fuji II LC and Dyract.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2009

This study was performed to assess the radiopacity of a variety of root canal sealers according to the specification concerning root canal sealers. Ten materials including Tubli-$Seal^{TM}$. Kerr Pulp Canal $Sealer^{TM}$, AH $26^{(R)}$, AH $plus^{(R)}$, AH plus $jet^{TM}$, Ad sea $1^{TM}$. $Sealer^{TM}$, $NOGENOL^{TM}$, ZOB $seal^{TM}$, $Epiphany^{TM}$ and dentin were evaluated in this study. In the first part, densitometric reading of an each step of aluminum step wedge on occlusal film was performed at different voltage and exposure time. In the second part, ten specimens were radiographed simultaneously with an aluminum step wedges on the occlusal films under decided condition. The mean radiographic density values of the materials were transformed into radiopacity expressed equivalent thickness of aluminum (mm Al). The following results were obtained. 1. Among the various conditions, the appropriate voltage and exposure time that meet the requirement density was 60 kVp at 0.2 s 2. All of the materials had greater radiopacity than 3 mm Al requirement of ANSI/ADA specification No. 57 (2000) and ISO No. 6876 (2001) standards. 3. The radiopacity of materials increased as thickness of materials increased. 4. The mm Al value of each specimen at 1mm in thickness has a significant difference in the statistics. It suggests that root canal sealers have a sufficient radiopacity that meet the requirement.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate the bone densities measured on copper-equivalent image of cross sectional view of mandibular edentulous premolar area obtained by multifuctional panoramic x-ray machine, PM 2002 CC with transversal slicing system. Materials and Methods: Panoramic cross sectional views with 8 mm focal layer of aluminum step and blocks, of hydroxyapatite (RA) step, 6 HA blocks and copper step wedge having 0.03 mm thickness of each step, and of 3 bone blocks cutted by 8 mm thickness mesiodistally and a dry mandible with copper step wedge were taken by using transversal slicing system in PM 2002 Cc. All reference-equivalent images were made and analyzed by NIH image program. Results: The average copper-equivalent value of cancellous bone of bone blocks on the panoramic cross sectional view was 0.026 ± 0.020 mm Cu. The calculated average bone density was 0.38g/cm². There was no significant difference (P>0.1) between the bone densities on intraoral digital view and on the panoramic digital cross sectional view. Conclusion: The copper-equivalent image of panoramic digital cross sectional view obtained by PM 2002 CC with very thin copper step wedge was supposed to be useful to measure the bone density of cancellous bone of mandible at the premolar edentulous area.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.293-303
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• 1992

Generally the patient's absorb dose and readability of radiograms are affected by the exposure time and kVp of which are related with the radiographic density and contrast The investigator carried studies to know the adequate level of exposure time and kVp to obtain the better readability of radiograms. In these studies dried human mandible with selfcuring acrylic resins attached with aluminum step wedge was used and readability of radiograms were compared with each other by videodensitometry among various combination sets of the exposure time, such as 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 19, 24, 30, 38, 48 and 60, and varing level of kVp, such as 60, 65, 70, 80 and 90 respectively. The obtained results were as follows: 1. As exposure time and kVp were increased, radiographic density of radiograms was increased. 2. The subject contrast was increased where aluminum step wedge was thin and reduced in the reversed condition. At the thin aluminum step wedge, subject contrast was increased at the condition of lower kilovoltage than that of higher kilovoltage. 3. In the case of non-constant radiographic density, the radiographic contrast was reduced with the increment kilovoltage. The radiographic contrast was increased in the lower kilovoltage with the longer exposure time and the higher kilovoltage with the shorter exposure time. 4. At the condition of short exposure time, better readability of each reading item was obtained with the increment of the kilovoltage but at the opposite condition increasing exposure time worsened readability of radiograms. Since X-ray machine in the current dental clinics is fixed between the range of 60-70kVp and 10mA, good radiograms can be obtained by varied exposure time. But according to the conclusion of these studies, better radiograms can be obtained by using filtered high kVp and then the absorb dose to patient and exposure time can be reduced.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.273-282
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to propose the utility which was evaluated the digital image processing and clinical application of the videodensitomery. The experiments were performed with IBM-PC/16bit-AT compatible, video camera(CCdtr55, Sony Co., Japan), an color monitor(MultiSync 3D, NEC, Japan) providing the resolution of 512×480 and 64 levels of gray. Sylvia Image Capture Board for the ADC(analog to digital converter) was used, composed of digitized image from digital signal and the radiographic density was measured by 256 level of gray. The periapical radiograph(Ektaspeed EP-21, Kodak Co., U. S. A) which was radiographed dried human mandible by exposure condition of 70 kVp and 48 impulses, was used for primary X-ray detector. And them evaluated for digitzed image by low and high pass filtering, correlations between aluminum equivalent values and the thickness of aluminum step wedge, aluminum equivalent values of sound enamel, dentin, and alveolar bone, the range of diffuse density for gray level ranging from 0 to 255. The obtained results were as follows: 1. The edge between aluminum steps of digitized image were somewhat blurred by low pass filtering, but edge enhancement could be resulted by high pass filtering. Expecially, edge enhancement between distal root of lower left 2nd molar and alveolar lamina dura was observed. 2. The correlation between aluminum equivalent values and the thickness of aluminum step wedge was intimated, yielding the coefficient of correlation r=0.9997(p<0.00l), the regression line was described by Y=0.9699X+0.456, and coefficient of variation amounting to 1.5%. 3. The aluminum equivalent values of sound enamel, dentin, and alvolar bone were 15.41㎜, 12.48㎜, 10.35㎜, respectively. 4. The range of diffuse density for gray level ranging from 0 to 255 was wider enough than that of photodenstiometer to be within the range of 1-4.9.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.283-297
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• 1999

Purpose: To compare radiographic images of Digora/sup (R)/ system and Ektaspeed Plus film obtained from normal adults. Materials and methods: Storage phosphor plate(SPP) was placed in a film holder behind Ektaspeed Plus film package without lead foil. The effect of film on SPP was studied in a separate in vitro experiment. Forty-seven sets of images were prepared for the evaluaton. The regions of interest(ROI) for evaluation were designated at seven sites including normal anatomical structures. The image quality for each ROI was evaluated on enhanced and unenhanced storage phosphor(SP) images and Ektaspeed Plus film. Results: Two film-SPP configurations showed significantly different gray levels at each step of the aluminum step wedge(p<0.05). The contrasts were comparable. Enhanced SP images were significantly superior to unenhaned images and film in all anatomical sturctures(p<0.01). The differences between unenhanced SP images and film were significant(p<0.05) except root canal and cortical bone on alveolar crest. For anatomical items. there were statistically significant difference among five observers(p<0.05). Conclusions: The image quality of enhanced SP images were superior to Ektaspeed Plus film. and Digora system is potentially applicable to clinical diagnosis.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to examine the effects of image filter on observer performance by counting the number of holes at each wedge step on a radiographic image. Materials and Methods : An aluminum step wedge with 11 steps ranged in thickness from 1.5 mm to 16.5 mm in 1.5 mm increments was fabricated for this study. Each step had 10 notched holes with 1.0 mm diameter on the bottom of the step wedge which were ranged in depths from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm in 0.1 mm increments. Digital radiographic raw images of the aluminum step wedge were acquired by using CCD intraoral sensor. The images were processed using several types of noise reduction filters and kernel sizes. Three observers counted the number of holes which could be discriminated on each step. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. Results : The number of holes at each step was decreased as the thickness of step was increased. The number of holes at each step on the raw images was significantly higher than that on the processed images. The number of holes was different according to the types and kernel sizes of the image filters. Conclusions : The types and kernel sizes of image filters on observer performance were important, therefore, they should be standardized for commercial digital imaging systems.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2001

Purpose: To compare the film density of Insight dental X-ray film (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA) with that of Ektaspeed Plus film (Eastman Kodak) under manual and automatic processing conditions. Materials and Methods : Insight and Ektaspeed Plus films were exposed at three different exposure conditions with an aluminum step wedge on the films under the three different exposure times. The exposed films were processed by both manual and automatic ways. The Base plus fog density and the optical density made by exposing step wedge were calculated using a digital densitometer (model 07-443, Victoreen Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). The optical densities of the Insight and Ektaspeed film versus thickness of alumimun wedge at the same exposure time were plotted on the graphs. Statistical analyses were applied for comparing the optical densities of the two films. Results: The film density of both Insight films and Ektaspeed Plus films under automatic processing condition was significantly higher over the manual processing. The film density of Insight films was significantly higher than that of Ektaspeed Plus films on both automatic and manual processing conditions. Conclusion: The radiation exposure time can be reduced when using Insight over Ektaspeed Plus film. To take the full advantage of reducing exposure time, Insight film should be processed automatically.