Radiation Exposure
Many dental offices use x-ray machines because they are useful diagnostic tools to see potential damage and tooth disease in patients. According to the American Dental Association, dental x-ray exams are safe, but they do require very low levels of radiation exposure. This makes the potentially harmful effects very small to the patient.
Dental X-ray tools and techniques are designed to limit the body's exposure to radiation and every precaution is taken to ensure that radiation exposure is "as low as reasonably achievable" (the ALARA principle). Therefore, a leaded apron minimizes the patient exposure to the abdomen and should be used when any dental x-ray is taken.
Occupational exposure in dental settings is far lower than that in hospitals and medical offices. According to the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the total limit for occupational exposure is 50 millisieverts (mSv) in one year. In addition, the lifetime occupational effective dose is limited to 10 mSv times the number of an individual's age. The NCRP concludes that occupational exposure for dental personnel will not exceed these limits. For pregnant dental personnel, the radiation exposure limit is 0.5 mSv per month.
Radiation Safety Requirements
State laws and regulations set specific requirements for the use of ionizing radiation (which includes X-rays).
Contact the state radiation protection program to determine specific requirements for:
- inspection and testing for the facility, X-ray machine, radiation monitoring equipment and radiograph processing equipment
- permits or licensing
- supervision of personnel
- training or certification
- dental office design and radiation shielding
- record keeping
- equipment
Radiographic training requirements for dental office personnel frequently differ from and are less rigorous than those of medical personnel who take X-rays. Training requirements for dental office personnel typically are found in state dental practice acts or dental board regulations.
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1-6. Why are leaded aprons used when taking dental x-rays?
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