Reference level for patient dose in dental skull lateral teleradiography

Abstract

The present work describes an experiment to obtain a local reference dose value in lateral skull teleradiography for dental applications. The reference value was based on patient measurements in seven dental X-ray units, using thermoluminescent chips, and measurements on a rubber globe filled with water at another 78 installations. Dosemeters were located initially in the head and neck of a human phantom to select the most suitable locations, and on the cephalostat of the X-ray unit at two appropriate locations, which did not interfere with the patient or with the usual imaging routine. The skin projection of the Porion point was considered the best position. 523 patients were monitored in the seven units; then patient doses and dose values from measurements on rubber balloons were compared to normalize and combine the data. The provisional reference value proposed is 400 microGy.

Accuracy of linear measurements using three imaging modalities: two lateral cephalograms and one 3D model from CBCT data

“…In the past, a cephalogram with a long distance between X-ray source and mid-sagittal plane of the patient's face (3-4 m) was used. This type of machine allows more parallel X-ray beams, leading to less magnification of the images and possibly less radiation dose to the patient, when paired with sensitive image receptors (3)(4)(5)(6). Today, most of the machines on the market combine panoramic and cephalometric radiographic options within one single device.…”