Sensitometric evaluation of four dental X-ray films using five processing solutions

Objectives: To compare the sensitometric properties of four dental films: Ektaspeed Plus and Ultra-speed (Kodak Eastman Co, Rochester, USA) and new and previous Dentus M2 (Agfa-Gevaert, Mortsel, Belgium) in five different processing solutions. Methods: Characteristic curves were constructed for four dental X-ray films using five different processing solutions. All films were processed manually in three sets of chemicals for manual processing: Agfa (Heraeus Kulzer, Dormagen, Germany), Kodak (Kodak-Pathe, Paris, France) and Demat (Viscopac, Athens, Greece) and two sets of chemicals for automatic processing: Durr XR and Periomat (Durr Dental, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany). Analysis of variance and regression analysis was performed to examine the factors significantly affecting film density. Results: The new Dentus M2 film had comparable gradient, higher speed and lower base-plus-fog than its predecessor. It had comparable speed with Ektaspeed Plus in chemicals for automatic processing. All films had a higher speed and lower gradient when processed in the chemicals for automatic processing. The highest film speed was achieved using Durr XR chemicals. Conclusions: The new Agfa Dentus M2 him is an E-speed film and can be considered an alternative to Ektaspeed Plus: both can be recommended for use in dental practice as they contribute to dose reduction.