title: Digital orthodontic radiographic set versus cone-beam computed tomography: an evaluation of the effective dose.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the equivalent and effective doses of different digital radiographic methods (panoramic, lateral cephalometric and periapical) with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Precalibrated thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed at 24 locations in an anthropomorphic phantom (Alderson Rando Phantom, Alderson Research Laboratories, New York, NY, USA), representing a medium sized adult. The following devices were tested: Heliodent Plus (Sirona Dental Systems, Bernsheim, Germany), Orthophos XG 5 (Sirona Dental Systems, Bernsheim, Germany) and i-CAT (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA, USA). The equivalent doses and effective doses were calculated considering the recommendations of the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP) issued in 1990 and 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the effective dose of the radiographic set corresponded to 17.5% (ICRP 1990) and 47.2% (ICRP 2007) of the CBCT dose, the equivalent doses of skin, bone surface and muscle obtained by the radiographic set were higher when compared to CBCT. However, in some areas, the radiation produced by the orthodontic set was higher due to the complete periapical examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the optimization principle of radiation protection, i-CAT tomography should be used only in specific and justified circumstances. Additionally, following the ALARA principle, single periapical radiographies covering restricted areas are more suitable than the complete periapical examination.
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Orthodontics, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lillian Atsumi Simabuguro
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Chinem
authors.affiliation: Professor, Graduate program in Orthodontics, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz de Souza
authors.initials: Bde S
authors.lastname: Vilella
authors.affiliation: Professor, Graduate program in Radioprotection and Dosimetry, Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria (IRD), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Lúcia de Pinho
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Maurício
authors.affiliation: Professor, Graduate program in Radioprotection and Dosimetry, Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria (IRD), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia Viviana
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Canevaro
authors.affiliation: Professor, Graduate program in Radiology, Universidade Estácio de Sá (UNESA), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Deluiz
authors.affiliation: Professor, Graduate program in Orthodontics, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oswaldo de Vasconcellos
authors.initials: Ode V
authors.lastname: Vilella
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D002508:Cephalometry; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation