An assessment of the relative safety of dental x-ray equipment
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Date
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.
Description
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]