Effectiveness and comfort assessment of the novel intra-oral bisecting angle Bisector© and paralleling RINN® digital imaging receptor holders in low palatal height patients

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the effectiveness and comfort of two intraoral imaging techniques using respective digital radiograph receptor devices/holder in obtaining digital intraoral images. A total of 60 patients undergoing anterior intraoral periapical radiographs were single-blindly recruited. The imaging procedure was performed by two calibrated researchers where the novel holder group (Bisector©) was prospectively compared to the conventional paralleling technique group, RINN® by performing thirty radiographic examinations, respectively. All patients were randomly segregated into different groups using block randomisation method. The effectiveness of both holders was quantified based on the repeat rate percentage and quality of the images. The comfort study was enumerated using the Horizontal Visual Analogue Scale 100mm (HVAS). The Mann Whitney test (alpha = 0.05) was applied to compare the repeat rate of different types of imaging receptor device. The repeat rate percentage for Bisector© and RINN® holder devices were 8.9% and 18.6%, respectively (p < 0.05). The median range of the "comfort data" according to RINN® and Bisector© was 16 mm to 56 mm and 14 mm to 57 mm, respectively. No patients scored more than 74 mm. The Bisector© holder exhibited lower percentage of repeat as compared to the RINN® holder. Both groups did not cause major discomfort (mild-moderate pain). The use of novel intraoral bisecting angle radiographic receptor holder is however recommended to optimise the repeat rate in low palatal height patients.