New DEXshield™ enables DEXIS® Platinum Sensor owners to reduce radiation exposure to their patients

Introduced at the 2014 Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting is the new DEXIS DEXshield, a dental X-ray position indicating device and a patented patient protective shield.

According to DEXIS, when used in conjunction with the DEXIS Platinum Sensor, the new device not only reduces radiation to the patient, it also aids in proper positioning for image capture. DEXIS is the only company to provide both an intra-oral sensor, DEXIS Platinum, and a shielded ring, DEXshield, with the added benefit of dose reduction.

In a laboratory setting, DEXshield plus the DEXIS Platinum sensor was determined to reduce absorbed dose by at least 30% as compared to the Universal Ring plus the DEXIS Platinum sensor. During dental radiographic procedures, DEXshield’s tungsten core is able to block unnecessary X-rays. The resulting dose reduction does not affect image quality since the needed amount of radiation passes through the ring for optimal imaging results.

Maintaining the current DEXIS workflow, DEXshield takes the place of a standard ring. DEXshield was created to be easier to use than rectangular collimation, both of which were designed to reduce unnecessary dose to the patient.

To overcome some of the limitations of rectangular collimation, DEXshield, when properly used with the DEXIS Platinum Sensor, allows the operator to easily establish correct positioning and alignment. Appropriate positioning minimizes cone cuts which subsequently may reduce retakes that, in turn, potentially reduces even more unnecessary exposure.

In a DEXIS press release, the company explains it is aware that radiation dose is very important to dentists and their patients. The company recognizes that dental professionals want to control dose in an efficient manner while maintaining high image quality. Therefore, DEXIS has made dose control a priority in its device design goals.