An assessment of the relative safety of dental x-ray equipment

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Authors

Buch, B.
Fensham, R.
Maritz, M.P.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

South African Dental Association

Abstract

Concern among patients, often prompted by medical practitioners, regarding the harmful effects of radiation caused by dental x-ray procedures, has caused several patients of the dental school of the University of Pretoria to refuse dental radiographic procedures. Buch and Fensham in a previous article demonstrated that radiation doses to the eyes and thyroid resulting from a single pantomogram constituted less than 10 % of that which would be imparted by a transatlantic flight in terms of added natural background radiation. The authors in this study investigated doses to the same organs resulting from a full-mouth periapical series first using films and then digital imaging. Doses to the uterus resulting from these same examinations as well as from a pantomogram were also determined both with and without the use of a lead apron. Doses to the eye from a full-mouth examination using film compared favourably with those for a panoramic examination, but were much reduced when digital imaging techniques were employed. Doses to the uterus were small (equivalent to half a day of background radiation) for both a full-mouth examination using digital imaging, as well as for a pantomogram. However, from the results it would appear that there is little difference in the dose of scatter radiation to the uterus from a full-mouth examination whether or not a lead apron is used. The use of a lead apron for a pantomogram significantly reduces the dose to the uterus.

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Keywords

Assessment, Dental x-ray equipment

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Buch, B, Fensham, R & Maritz, MP 2009, 'An assessment of the relative safety of dental x-ray equipment', South African Dental Journal, vol. 64, no. 8, pp. 348-350. [www.sadanet.co.za]