Perforation rate of intraoral barriers for direct digital radiography

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the perforation rate of intraoral barriers for a direct digital sensor according to the barrier application.

Methods:

Four types of plastic barriers with different thicknesses and one type of latex finger cot were applied using six modified techniques. The perforations in barrier samples of six groups were examined by a water pressure test. The differences in the perforation rates among the six barrier applications were calculated.

Results:

The least perforation occurred in Group 4 (0.08-mm-thick single barrier, 22%) and the most in Group 1 (0.04-mm-thick single barrier, 58%). An ANOVA test revealed statistical differences in the perforation rate among the groups (p = 0.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.326–0.403).

Conclusions:

The use of double barriers can be helpful in reducing the perforation rate of intraoral barriers.