What is a method to reduce radiation dose in dental radiography?

Using E-speed film is an effective method for reducing radiation dose in dental radiography. E-speed film is more sensitive to radiation compared to D-speed film, meaning it requires less exposure to produce a diagnostic image of adequate quality. This reduced sensitivity translates to a lower amount of radiation necessary to achieve similar imaging outcomes, thereby minimizing radiation exposure to both patients and dental professionals.

In contrast, increasing the exposure time would result in a higher radiation dose, as longer exposure leads to more radiation being absorbed. Decreasing the kilovoltage, while it may influence image contrast and quality, could necessitate a longer exposure time to achieve adequate density, which doesn't effectively reduce the radiation dose. Using D-speed film instead of E-speed film would not be advantageous because D-speed film requires a higher dose of radiation to achieve comparable image quality, thereby increasing the radiation exposure. Therefore, selecting E-speed film is the most effective option for dose reduction in dental radiography.