Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Bob Russell — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:29:54 GMT

It will be the water company that will be unhappy, backed up by the Environment Agency.

With the low volume we used to produce they were happy with sink disposal but only once the heavy metals had been recovered by a silver trap.

Your usual waste removal company should be able to help. Our crematorium service used to take this waste for a price!

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Beats — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:27:51 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

You also need to check with the local authority they are happy with the developer and fixer going down the drain.

Niall

[/quote]

I would guess not?

I'd thought a large cannister similar to what the spent lab chemicals go into to deal with at a later date. presumably can mix the fixer and developer together in one OK?

I wasn't too sure on rinsing bit. Do folks rinse by dipping in a jar of water (and if so does this simply go in large cannister also when cleaned out), or by running under tap?

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Niall Taylor — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 10:39:11 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]... view them down a postal tube of suitable length, say 12 or 15 inches...[/quote]

'I see no ships!'

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Niall Taylor — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 10:37:33 GMT

You also need to check with the local authority they are happy with the developer and fixer going down the drain.

Niall

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Beats — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:08:48 GMT

Genius(es).

Legendary advice.

I can see no reasonable objections, so look forward to my first intra-oral radiographs (albeit make-shift ones, but undoubetdly better than none I would imagine) by the end of the month

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:24:08 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"] When developing, ensure you develop the film, not any of the other components (we've all done it....)[/quote]

Oh yes..........

Get some little clothes pegs if you are fussy about getting chemicals on your fingers. Or a small retired pair of artery forceps.

[quote user="Rob Davis"]They are much easier to view if you make yourself a high tech viewing apparatus (take a piece of cardboard, draw around each size of film and cut out with a scalpel)[/quote]

And even better, also view them down a postal tube of suitable length, say 12 or 15 inches. Something to do with the physiology of human vision.

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Rob Davis — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:39:11 GMT

[quote user="Beats"]1) Film (size 2): is this OK "Kent X-Ray Film FS58 31x41mm 150pk Flexisoft Periapical film. High Contrast. E/F Speed." = £23.29[/quote]

I'm not familiar with this make, and I usually use D speed film as the resolution is better, but it is probably of no significance to start with. The price sounds good!

[quote user="Beats"]

2) Developer: Kodak Rapid Access Developer 500ml = £5.39

3) Fixer: Kodak Rapid Access Fixer 500ml = £5.39

[/quote]

Perfect, these are what I have used. At room temperature I dip for 15 second in developer, briefly rinse in water, then 20 second in fixer and at least 20 seconds rinsing.

[quote user="Beats"]Do I need do get separate envelopes / intensifying screens to put the film into?[/quote]

No, they come in their own sealed envelopes - best to open one up when you get one and examine the contents: should be plastic outer envelope, dark cardboard, foil on one side and film in the middle. Make sure the film is the correct way around when taking the exposure! When developing, ensure you develop the film, not any of the other components (we've all done it....)

[quote user="Beats"]Do I need to get any film holding device to keep the film where I want it in the cat's mouth?[/quote]

For most views I don't use anything, but if it won't stay where you want it then a small piece of screwed up paper towel works fine!

[quote user="Beats"]Is there anything else at all other than a fixed head xray machine, lightbox, dark room and 3 pots/margarine tubs (I'm assuming I need one to rinse with distilled water?) that I need to get started?[/quote]

If you have a dark room then that is easiest, otherwise you can rig up a home-made jobby as described eloquently by Evelyn on the other thread some time ago. Jam jars work well for chemicals (ensure opening is big enough for size 4 film). They are much easier to view if you make yourself a high tech viewing apparatus (take a piece of cardboard, draw around each size of film and cut out with a scalpel) to cut out the background light. Tap water is fine for rinsing.

It is very possible (though not easy) to take pictures with a fixed head X-ray machine. This was also discussed on the other thread. If you can purchase a dental x-ray machine it makes things much easier (and they don't cost the earth).

[quote user="Beats"]I start off at say 65kV, 50mA, 0.1s and a FFD of 20-45cm, and adjust as needed.[/quote]

Try it and see. Most of my exposures are considerably longer than 0.1s (I think I put some figures on the other thread). With my dental x-ray machine the exposure times were approx 0.38-0.7s depending on size.

Hope that's some help, good luck. Practice positioning - it takes a while to get it right, but it's worth persevering!

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Beats — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 20:22:32 GMT

Thanks for suggestions!

All good ideas, but I'm most likely to go for Rob's.

Drilling down on the detail of what exactly needed:

1) Film (size 2): is this OK "Kent X-Ray Film FS58 31x41mm 150pk Flexisoft Periapical film. High Contrast. E/F Speed." = £23.29

2) Developer: Kodak Rapid Access Developer 500ml = £5.39

3) Fixer: Kodak Rapid Access Fixer 500ml = £5.39

Excusing my ignorance:

Do I need do get separate envelopes / intensifying screens to put the film into?

Do I need to get any fancy clips or apparatus to use to dip the films into the chemicals to develop or hang up afterwards?

Do I need to get any film holding device to keep the film where I want it in the cat's mouth?

Is there anything else at all other than a fixed head xray machine, lightbox, dark room and 3 pots/margarine tubs (I'm assuming I need one to rinse with distilled water?) that I need to get started?

I start off at say 65kV, 50mA, 0.1s and a FFD of 20-45cm, and adjust as needed.

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:28:41 GMT

Or get a plate like this for your digital developer:

The blue dental plates stick magnetically to the metal plate that goes in the cassette, which you process just like a standard cassette. When you want to use one you take it off and put it in a thin plastic sleeve, they aren't light sensitive so no need for a dark room.

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Rob Davis — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 14:00:06 GMT

Buying films and chemicals is not expensive, jam jars in a dark cupboard work fine. A box of 150 size 2 films will set you back around £50.

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Bob Russell — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 12:02:35 GMT

At the moment there is an American company selling second hand or reconditioned units on Ebay. Mostly Kodak and size 2 units but others do appear from time to time.

Obviously these do not have the warranty or support of a new set up but are a lot cheaper.

Edit: if you do go for one of these make sure there is a licence for the software, not just the software!!

RE: Gone Dental Digital? Any old dental film?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 10:32:13 GMT

Honestly...just invest in something digital. You will actually use it, as it's quick and easy, and you won't regret it...