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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 25
| Issue : 4 | Page : 539-540 |
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| Persistent radiographic cone cuts: A simple test to avoid the frustrating problem |
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Santosh Gowdru Shivanandappa1, Lata Shankarappa Mushannavar2, Girish Katti1
1 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Al-Badar Rural Dental College, Gulbarga, India
2 Department of Prosthodontics SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India
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| Date of Submission | 01-Feb-2014 |
| Date of Decision | 10-Feb-2014 |
| Date of Acceptance | 31-May-2014 |
| Date of Web Publication | 10-Oct-2014 |
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 Abstract | | |
In routine dental radiography, one may encounter numerous radiographic errors, one of which may be partial images or cone cuts. These cones cut errors although may appear as simple problems, but often persistent cone cuts may be frustrating to the dental practitioner. In this study, our main aim was to find and solve the origin of the problem. This study was conducted with two different intraoral X-ray machines with 12 inch length position indicating devices (PIDs) with four No. 2 intraoral films. If the problem is originated in the X-ray machine, it can be solved by either tapping the collimator or by repositioning the PID. Keywords: Collimator, cone cut, position indicating device
How to cite this article:
Shivanandappa SG, Mushannavar LS, Katti G. Persistent radiographic cone cuts: A simple test to avoid the frustrating problem. Indian J Dent Res 2014;25:539-40 |
How to cite this URL:
Shivanandappa SG, Mushannavar LS, Katti G. Persistent radiographic cone cuts: A simple test to avoid the frustrating problem. Indian J Dent Res [serial online] 2014 [cited 2021 Mar 7];25:539-40. Available from: https://www.ijdr.in/text.asp?2014/25/4/539/142572 |
Cone cut or partial images are often frustrating to the dental practitioner. Cone cut may be caused by various reasons. The most common being the image receptor is not in line with the position indicating device (PID)/radiographic cone. [1] Hence, the collimator which reduces the size and shape or cross-sectional area of the X-ray beam doesn't completely exposes the film resulting in cone cut. The other most common reason being the top of the film not completely immersed in the processing solutions. However, sometimes even after taking care of the above two mentioned facts; one may get these partial images/cone cuts persistently resulting in some frustration as well as embarrassment.
| Methods | |  |
In such cases, it is advisable to check for the X-ray machine itself for the correct alignment of the collimator with that of the PID or X-ray source. [2],[3] Hence, here we made such an attempt by conducting a simple experiment with two different X-ray machines. Four No. 2 dental films were placed on a piece of paper in the form of a cross-shaped template. The PID and the location of each film were traced on the paper [Figure 1], and the films were identified with small puncture holes in the film packet made with a pin, so each can be returned to its proper place after exposure [Figure 2]. The PID is positioned to cover approximately half of each film packet and to touch the packets [Figure 3]. The films were exposed using half the maximum anterior exposure, processed, and were returned to the proper order. | Figure 1: The position indicating device and the location of each film were traced on the paper
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 | Figure 2: Films were identified with small puncture holes in the film packet made with a pin
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 | Figure 3: The position indicating device is positioned to cover approximately half of each film packet and to touch the packets
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| Discussion | | |
We checked for the alignment of the image with that of the marked line of PID. If both were coinciding, then it was interpreted as collimator, X-ray source and PID are in line with each other as shown in [Figure 4]. If the image is not coinciding with that of the marked line as in [Figure 5], later it was interpreted as collimator, X-ray source and PID are in not in line with each other and may be the cause of persistent unavoidable partial images/cone cuts. [4] In such case, adjusting the collimator by tapping it into place or replacing the PID solves the problem. Hence, the collimator was corrected with the help of X-ray mechanic by tapping it to the correct place and once again image was taken [Figure 6]. This image [Figure 6] is showing the corrected alignment of collimator, X-ray source and PID. Thus, the frustrating cone cut/partial images may be avoided. This simple experiment is also cost-effective as it solves the root cause of the problem rather than replacing the defective machine with a new X-ray machine | Figure 6: Corrected collimator, position indicating device and X-ray source again in line with each other
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| References | | |
| 1. | Bailoor DN, Nagesh KS. Errors in dental radiography. Fundamentals of Oral Medicine and Radiology. 1 st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Publications; 2005. p. 309. 
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| 2. | White SC, Pharoah MJ. Radiographic quality assurance and infection control. Oral Radiology; Principles and Interpretation. 5 th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Publications;2006. p. 113-4.
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| 3. | Karjodkar FR. Radiographic prescription, quality control and Infection control. Textbook of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. 1 st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Publications; 2006. p. 253.
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| 4. | Ghom AG. Quality control in dental radiography. Textbook of Oral Radiology. 1 st ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Publications; 2008. p. 223.
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Correspondence Address:
Santosh Gowdru Shivanandappa
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Al-Badar Rural Dental College, Gulbarga
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.142572
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6] |
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