Pediatric bitewing film holder: preschoolers' acceptance and radiographs' diagnostic quality.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate a modified bitewing film holder based on preschoolers' acceptance and the diagnostic quality of radiographic images. METHODS Sixty-six 3- to 5-year-old children were radiographed with the modified device. Acceptance was assessed according to their behavior during the radiographic examination and to their perception of the procedure. In only the 4- and 5-year-olds, the children's perception was assessed using a faces scale. Evaluation of the images' diagnostic quality for each quadrant (considering pairs of radiographs) was based on anatomic structures usually present on bitewing radiographs. RESULTS During radiographic examination, 73% of the children were cooperative. As to the patients' perceptions (N = 43), 74% showed satisfaction with the radiographic examination. The diagnostic quality of radiographic images (N = 66) was adequate in more than 90% of the cases for all evaluated parameters, except for the visualization of alveolar bone crests (54%) and the absence of proximal overlapping (86%). CONCLUSIONS The modified bitewing film holder produced adequate radiographs for almost all parameters and was well accepted by preschoolers.