title: An assessment of the relative safety of dental x-ray equipment.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. bbuch@medic.up.ac.za
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fensham
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Maritz
mesh_terms: D005123:Eye / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging