Storage phosphor plates: how durable are they as a digital dental radiographic system?

Abstract

Background. The exclusive use of digital radiography based on a storage phosphor system at the Univeristy of Missouri–Kansas City School of Dentistry raised some questions about the durability of the storage phosphor plates (SPPs). The digital images acquired from SPPs that have been repeatedly used seem to demonstrate a lower quality owing to the appearance of scratches. These scratches sometimes render the image completely undiagnostic and may lead to a “remake” of the radiograph. Our observations indicated that the durability of this imaging system may be limited, despite the manufacturer's claim that the SPPs can be used indefinitely.