The present work describes an experiment undertaken using thermoluminescent
dosemeters to obtain a local reference dose level in orthopantomography, b
ased on patient measurements in 11 dentistry installations. In addition, a
critical audit of the dose recommended by the International Atomic Energy A
gency for intraoral X-ray diagnostics is performed, based on data gathered
from over 300 intraoral X-ray facilities. The provisional local reference l
evels proposed are 0.7 mGy entrance surface dose at the occipital region fo
r orthopantomography and 3.5 mGy entrance surface dose for intraoral radiol
ogy.