HOW HAZARDOUS IS DENTAL ROENTGENOGRAPHY

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(61)90471-6· OSTI ID:4723617

Richards, A G

A search was made of dental and medical literature to determine the various clinically proven biologic effects that x radintion can produce in the human body, the amount of radiation necessary to produce effects in the various tissues, and the amount of radiation that reaches the tissues when dental examinations are made with x rays. From this, the degree of hazard associated with dental x-ray examinations was assessed. A survey of the past 40 years failed to disclose any clinical evidence that would seriously condemn the practice of dental roentgenography when used in an intelligent manner, as being unsafe for either patient or dentist. No instances of burns or malignancy from dental diagnostic x-ray procedures have been reported. The few documented incidents of untoward biologic effects that occurred in the past when dental patients were exposed to larger amounts of x radiation are less likely to be repeated among patient s today because of the far smaller amounts of x radiation that presently are employed. A statistical study of the longevity of dentists indicated that dentists live almost 3 years longer than white nondentists, thus the dentist's life expectancy has not suffered either because of occupational exposure to radiation. (H.H.D.)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-008471
• OSTI ID: 4723617
• Journal Information: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology (U.S.), Journal Name: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 14; ISSN OSOMA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
AGE
BIOLOGY
BODY
BONES
CANCER
HEALTH AND SAFETY
MAN
PERSONNEL
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOGRAPHY
STATISTICS
TEETH
TISSUES
X RADIATION