RADIATION-DOSES OF COMMONLY USED DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC SURVEYS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and to compare the radiation dose associated with commonly used dental radiographic surveys includ ing the following: (1) 20 film full-mouth survey, (2) bite-wing radiog raphs, (3) panoramic survey supplemented with bite-wing radiographs an d (4) a common orthodontic radiographic survey (a lateral cephlometric radiograph supplemented with a panoramic radiograph). The effects of collimation and faster radiographic film speeds on dose were also inve stigated. The effective doses to selected anatomic sites were calculat ed from measured absorbed doses with the use of an improved, tissue-eq uivalent phantom fitted with lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosime ters. It was demonstrated that converting from round to rectangular co llimation reduced the radiation exposure by a factor of four. A panora mic survey supplemented with bite-wing radiographs uses approximately one third of the radiation exposure needed to expose a full-mouth surv ey made with E-speed film and rectangular collimation.