Digital Radiography Advantages — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyRadiologyDigital Radiography AdvantagesMFDS Part 1

Which is a recognised advantage of digital intra-oral radiography over conventional film radiography, provided that the exposure settings are appropriately optimised?

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Correct answer: D — Potential reduction in patient radiation dose

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · D = shown as C · A = shown as D

A is correct. When exposure parameters are appropriately optimised, digital intra-oral detectors can produce a diagnostically acceptable image using less radiation exposure than conventional film, allowing a reduction in patient dose. A fixed reduction of “up to 80%” should not be stated as universal because the saving depends on the detector, film comparator, equipment and exposure settings, and is less consistent for panoramic systems. Digital imaging does not require wet chemical processing and permits electronic storage, so C and E are incorrect. It does not require a higher dose, excluding B. Digital systems do not invariably provide higher spatial resolution than film; overall diagnostic quality also depends on detector characteristics, exposure, positioning and display conditions, excluding D.

Reference: Public Health England. Dental radiographic X-ray imaging: dose to patients—Dose to patients from dental radiographic X-ray imaging procedures in the UK: 2017 review, sections on digital imaging and dose trends. 2019, updated 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dental-radiographic-x-ray-imaging-dose-to-patients