Radiation Exposure in Dentistry

Radiographic imaging procedures in dental practice are among the most frequently performed examinations in the United States on healthy individuals, and globally, one of the most common. ^7-9 It is well-established that x-radiation is detrimental and, when delivered with enough intensity, a known carcinogen. ^10,11 The effects of radiation are cumulative and any amount of ionizing radiation exposure has the potential to increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, especially in children who are more susceptible from longer cumulative lifespan exposures and higher organ radiosensivitiy.^11-20 In dental practice, the effective radiation dose associated with typical imaging modalities ranges from low-dose intraoral and panoramic imaging to higher dose CBCT.² The radiation dose delivered to the patient in CBCT varies among manufactures, scanner type, exposure parameters, imaging protocols, and the field of view (FOV) for the particular scan selected.^2,21-24 It is prudent, therefore, to keep patient exposure to ionizing radiation low and mitigate patient exposure through adherence to recommended safety practices and procedures.