title: Efficacy of lead foil for reducing doses in the head and neck: a simulation study using digital intraoral systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of lead foils in reducing the radiation dose received by different anatomical sites of the head and neck during periapical intraoral examinations performed with digital systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images were acquired through four different manners: phosphor plate (PSP; VistaScan(®) system; Dürr Dental GmbH, Bissingen, Germany) alone, PSP plus lead foil, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS; DIGORA(®) Toto, Soredex(®), Tuusula, Finland) alone and CMOS plus lead foil. Radiation dose was measured after a full-mouth periapical series (14 radiographs) using the long-cone paralleling technique. Lithium fluoride (LiF 100) thermoluminescent dosemeters were placed in an anthropomorphic phantom at points corresponding to the tongue, thyroid, crystalline lenses, parotid glands and maxillary sinuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dosemeter readings demonstrated the efficacy of the addition of lead foil in the intraoral digital X-ray systems provided in reducing organ doses in the selected structures, approximately 32% in the PSP system and 59% in the CMOS system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of lead foils associated with digital X-ray sensors is an effective alternative for the protection of different anatomical sites of the head and neck during full-mouth periapical series acquisition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nejaim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A I V
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haiter Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Boscolo
mesh_terms: D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry; D006257:Head / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000528:radiation effects; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000528:radiation effects; D009333:Neck / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D014059:Tongue / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D018020:Lithium Compounds; C027651:lithium fluoride; D007854:Lead; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: dental digital radiography; radiation protection; thermoluminescent dosimetry