The Use of Radiation Dose‐Reduction Techniques in the Practices of Dental Faculty Members

Abstract

X‐ray exposure to dental patients has been significantly reduced by the introduction of speed group E intraoral film, rectangular beam limitation, long position indicating devices (PIDs), and rare‐earth intensifying screens for extraoral radiography. Research indicates that many dentists do not use these techniques. However, schools of dentistry have implemented them to varying degrees for many years, so this investigation was conducted to determine the extent to which dental school faculty members use these materials and techniques in their own practices. Comparisons were made between full‐ and part‐time instructors, those in practice for fifteen years or less and those in practice for more than fifteen years, and those with postgraduate education versus those with no formal education beyond dental school. The significance of differences was measured with chi‐square analysis. The results indicate that dentists with faculty appointments utilize dose‐reducing techniques to degrees that are comparable to or greater than reported usage by nondental faculty practitioners. Faculty dentists in practice fifteen years or less are more likely than their older colleagues to use E‐speed film (p = 0.001), whereas those in practice more than fifteen years are more likely to use longer PIDs (p = 0.049). Greater acceptance of these practices by faculty may lead to reinforcement of their use in the clinical education of dental students.

Compliance of Iranian dentists with safety standards of oral radiology

“…8 We found that only 15% of the respondents in our study used long cones. Findings from other studies such as Turkey (52.3%), 3 England and Wales (63%) 10 and faculty members of the USA (50.5%) 11 showed higher use of long cones. The low rate of long cone use may be owing to the fact that many X-ray machines are equipped with short-tomedium collimators and the long cone has to be purchased separately.…”

“…6 Other studies report a higher use of film holders in different countries-37% in England and Wales 10 and 43% in Syria. 11 Restricting the X-ray beam to the receptor area can prevent unnecessary patient exposure. 3,6,8 Rectangular collimation ensures that the emitted X-ray is slightly larger than the receptor area.…”

“…12 Researchers have shown that the image quality is not impaired by using the faster films; 13 however, some dentists do not always choose the fastest receptors. 3,11,13,14 Regarding the receptor type, the present study showed that the majority of respondents used the E-speed film (62%) which is higher than Figure 3 Type of radiography requested in the initial visit by participating dentists How Iranian dentists obey radiation standards findings in Uganda (22%), 9 Belgium(40%), 6 Turkey (10.2%), 3 Spain(0.8%), 14 Denmark (25%), 15 Canada (25%) 7 and Finland (24%). 16 Studies in Greece (66%) 2 and in North American dental schools (86%) 17 showed higher use of the E-speed films.…”

Survey of dental radiographical practice in States of Punjab and Haryana in India

“…The use of E‐speed film and the recently introduced F‐speed film permits significant exposure reductions compared to the slower D‐speed film. Rectangular collimation of the X‐ray beam decreases the amount of tissue exposed, thereby lowering the absorbed dose to the patient . Extraoral radiographic doses have been markedly reduced with the use of rare‐earth intensifying screens …”