The influence of the X-ray spectrum at compact bone–titanium interfaces in digital dental radiography

Abstract

To determine the optimum X-ray spectrum in digital dental radiography once the dose around an implant and the diagnostic usefulness of the image are taken into account. A Monte Carlo code (MCNP4B) was employed for computing the dose distribution across the bone-titanium interface. The X-ray spectra used were those met in digital dental radiography; 50-70 kVp, 2 mm Al total filtration, 5 kVp increment. The variation of the ratio of dose with as opposed to without implant against depth reaches maximum values at the bone-implant interface that vary between 2.9 and 3.2. For the same number of photon histories followed, the higher the tube potential setting, the greater the dose both in contact and inside the implant. In digital dental radiography, a 60-65 kVp spectrum accompanied by the known 30% reduction in mAs leads to lower dose to the patient for a diagnostically useful image.