X-RADIATION IN DENTAL OFFICES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA. PART III

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(64)90140-9· OSTI ID:4015251

Manson-Hing, L R; Wuehrmann, A H; Jamison, H C

A survey of techniques and safety practices covering 222 x-ray machines examined in 195 offlces and clinics is reported. The subjects investigated were: roentgenographic techniques, operators' positions, and personnel exposure. Most of the dentists questioned (135, or 66%) used both periapical and bite-wing projections; 36 others used occlusal projections in addition to intraoral techniques; and 9 used extraoral projections in addition to intraoral and occlusal methods. The target-skin distance varied from 6 to 60 in.; however, 178 (87.5%) of the dentists usually used a thrget-skin distance of 8 in. The type of film used was also recorded. The speed of intraoral films varied from slow to extra-fast, and 109 of the 204 dentists stated that they had not changed film speed in the last 10 yr. Ninetyfour had changed to faster film. Consideration of the type of intraoral survey used in the dental offices of 209 practitioners showed that 168 dentists routinely obtained complete roentgenographic surveys of their patients, the number of intraoral films per survey varying from 4 to 20. The factors considered when studying positions of personnel were: presence of shielding material, distance, and position in relation to the primary beam of x radiation. Most (82%) of the dentists had either obtained a radiologic safety survey, used some type of personnel monitoring, modified their machines, arranged for the operator and assistant to be shielded, or sought positions at least 6 ft away from the patient when the machine was operated. Measurements of the rates of intensity of radiation were also made in other dental office locations often occupied by people. These estimated annual exposures of operators and assistants indicate that none exceeded the maximum annual exposure (5 r) set by the radiation protection guide of the National Bureau of Standards. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-020261
• OSTI ID: 4015251
• Journal Information: Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol., Journal Name: Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Vol. Vol: 17
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BEAMS
BODY
BONES
FILMS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
IRRADIATION
MEASURED VALUES
MONITORING
PERSONNEL
RADIATION DOSES
SAFETY
SHIELDING MATERIALS
SKIN
SPECTROMETERS
STANDARDS
TARGETS
X RADIATION