The evaluation of high-speed screen/film combinations in cephalometric radiography.

Cephalometric radiographs of a tissue equivalent plastic encased dry skull, each made with eight different screen/film combinations, were compared for usefulness in making orthodontic analyses. The eight screen/film combinations chosen ranged in relative speed from 80 to 600. Only one grid cassette was used, and it was a Par speed screen/film combination. Ten orthodontists identified 13 selected anatomic landmarks and rated the adequacy of their radiographic images. The density of each cephalometric radiograph was analyzed for each anatomic landmark. The results showed a difference in density readings for the various landmarks visualized. The optical density preferences of the 13 anatomic landmarks ranged between 0.87 and 2.09. The study leads to the conclusion that cephalometric radiographs can be taken with screen/film combinations that provide maximum useful information with a minimum dose level to the patient.