Quality assurance in dental radiography: intra-oral image quality analysis.

With the introduction of criteria for clinical audit by the Irish Dental Council, and the statutory requirement on dentists to introduce this into their practice, this article will introduce the basic concepts of quality standards in intra-oral radiography and the subsequent application of these standards in an image quality audit cycle. Subjective image quality analysis is not a new concept, but its application can prove beneficial to both patient and dental practitioner. The ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle is fundamental in radiation protection, and therefore the prevention of repeat exposures demonstrates one facet of this that the dental practitioner can employ within daily practice.