title: Update on the biological effects of ionizing radiation, relative dose factors and radiation hygiene.
abstract: Diagnostic imaging is an indispensable part of contemporary medical and dental practice. Over the last few decades there has been a dramatic increase in the use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic imaging. The carcinogenic effects of high-dose exposure are well known. Does diagnostic radiation rarely cause cancer? We don't know but we should act as if it does. Accordingly, dentists should select patients wisely - only make radiographs when there is patient-specific reason to believe there is a reasonable expectation the radiograph will offer unique information influencing diagnosis or treatment. Low-dose examinations should be made: intraoral imaging - use fast film or digital sensors, thyroid collars, rectangular collimation; panoramic and lateral cephalometric imaging - use digital systems or rare-earth film screen combinations; and cone beam computed tomography - use low-dose machines, restrict field size to region of interest, reduce mA and length of exposure arc as appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, The University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA. swhite@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mallya
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods; D014962:X-Ray Film