Surveillance of Patient Entrance Dose of Intra-oral Dental Radiography in Trang, Phatthalung, and Satun Provinces During 2017–2023

Patient Entrance Dose of Intraoral Dental Radiography During 2017–2023

Abstract

         Dental radiography is important for diagnosis, treatment planning, and orodental treatment follow-up, and is one-third of all X-ray images. To prevent patients from receiving unnecessary radiation and to reduce radiation dose usage, the Regional Medical Sciences Center 12/1 Trang, Department of Medical Sciences, conducted surveillance of radiation doses from intra-oral dental radiography in Trang, Phatthalung, and Satun provinces. From fiscal year 2017 to 2023, there were 66, 80, 50, 64, 19, 32, and 60 intraoral X-ray units, respectively. The doses were measured at an open-end cone called the Patient Entrance Dose (PED). The exposure techniques were set for six dental areas: maxilla incisor, mandible incisor, maxilla canine- premolar, mandible canine-premolar, maxilla molar, and mandible molar. The PED calculated the median as 1.1–1.7, 0.9–1.4, 1.4–2.2, 1.3–1.8, 1.8–2.9, and 1.4–2.3 mGy, respectively. As by the film system, these are 1.5–2.1, 1.4–1.8, 2.1–2.6, 1.8–2.2, 3.0–3.3, and 2.2–3.0 mGy, respectively. For the digital imaging system, these are 1.0–1.5, 0.8–1.3, 1.3–1.9, 0.9–1.6, 1.6–2.4, and 1.2–2.0 mGy, respectively.These results were within the limit of the DRLs issued by the Department of Medical Sciences which are 2.3, 1.9, 3.1, 2.4, 4.0, and 3.1 mGy, respectively. This indicated that the agency that used the film system, PED exceeded the digital imaging system for all groups of teeth. Radiation safety should be concerned for both users and customers.