Does image file transfer, exposure time and optimization algorithm affect digital intraoral radiographs?

Background The transfer of digital radiographic images is widely practiced. Digital image processing can influence the perception of image quality. The question arises as to how exposure, internal image adjusting algorithms and image file transfer affect the optical density of digital radiographs. Objectives To evaluate the influence of exposure time, optimization and file transfer on digital radiographs. Material and methods Calibration patterns were formed and a series of digital radiograms were recorded under standardized conditions. The radiographs were exported and then imported into the same software. Three groups of radiographs were analyzed: A - images originally performed and recorded in the software; B - images imported after exporting an optimized image; and C - images imported after exporting an image without optimization but with measurements of the density of the marked regions of interest. Results An increase of the exposure time decreases optical density. The optimization algorithm increases contrast and decreases differences between exposure times. Long exposures affect the visibility of objects with low optical density. After importing the images in Group B, there was a risk of using the optimization algorithm twice. When optimization was not performed, there were no differences between Groups B and A. In Group C, there was no risk of doubling the optimization algorithm. Conclusions The transfer of digital radiographs can exert an influence on the optical density values. To avoid the risk of image distortion, files should be exported without image optimization.