Avoid Unnecessary Retakes When Using Digital Imaging

For intraoral radiography, digital sensors offer an increased efficiency of image acquisition, which facilitates the retaking of images. Because the number of film exposures does not limit us, we tend to take more images than needed. Therefore, some dental offices have a "1 retake policy," meaning that, if the image is not satisfactory after 1 retake, you must get help from another assistant or doctor.  When Are Retakes Necessary? If an image in not excellent but is diagnostically acceptable, a retake is not necessary. If an image is not of diagnostic quality, the dentist must decide whether to go for another attempt. In pediatric dentistry, perfect images are not always easy to obtain. If you are uncertain whether there will be an improvement with a retake, then refrain from taking another radiograph.  Other Thoughts: Digital imaging cannot correct for any geometric projection errors. Also, the radiation necessary to make 1 digital intraoral radiograph, whether it is a sol more...