Collective dose to the Swedish population from intraoral radiography.
In 1984 the Swedish National Institute of Radiation Protection (SSI) undertook an investigation (KAST) of 400 randomly selected dental offices to check the extent to which the new rules and recommendations concerning radiation protection (SSI 1978, 1980) were applied. Data for calculation of the energy imparted per bitewing examination of an adult were available. The information obtained was utilized for estimating the collective dose in Sweden from intraoral radiography. The mean value of the energy imparted from an ordinary bitewing examination was 0.48 mJ. The quotient between the sum of all imparted energy during 1984, 5,519 J, and the number of inhabitants in that year was 0.66 mJ. This corresponds to 1.5 ordinary bitewing examinations per individual in Sweden. The collective effective dose equivalent is 79 manSv after transformation from the total energy imparted. The average energy imparted from the annual natural irradiation in Sweden is 100 mJ, with variations between 35 and 350 mJ, giving totally to the population 830,000 J. The dose contribution from intraoral radiography is thus considered of minor importance when taking into account the variations of the natural irradiation as well as the benefit of the diagnostic gain in dentistry and the enhancement of public dental health.
Stenström
B
B
Department of Oral Radiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bergman
K
K
Blomgren
P G
PG
Henrikson
C O
CO
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D013548:Sweden; D014962:X-Ray Film