SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.

OSTI ID:4726747

Seward, G R

Various possible measures for reducing radiation doses in dentistry are presented. Discussion is given on diameter of the primary beam, focus-skin distance, kilovoltage peak and filtration, speed of film, clinical aspects of radiography, technique and the training of operators, gonadal shields, and the x- ray machine. Equipment for limiting beam size must be simple and must require the minimum of adjustment between exposures. The combination of materials to best provide radiopacity together with lightness and strength is a cone built from a cylinder of Perspex and lined with thick lead foil. For a given degree of blackening of the film, the dose to the tissue is reduced by increasing the focus- skin distance, provided the diameter of the beam is adjusted to cover a similar area. A second effect of increasing the focus-skin distance is to reduce the degree of divergence of the beam. Increasing the kilovoltage is one of the most efficient ways of reducing exposure times with dental x-ray machines since for every rise of 10 kv the exposure may be reduced by approximately one-half. For dental radiographs, kilovoltages in the range 60 to 85 are the most acceptable. However, x rays should not be used for diagnostic purposes until other methods have been used. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-016349
• OSTI ID: 4726747
• Journal Information: Proc. Roy. Soc. Med., Journal Name: Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. Vol. Vol: 54
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
BEAMS
BONES
CYLINDERS
DIAGNOSIS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FILTERS
GONADS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
IMAGES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LEAD
LENSES
NUCLEAR EMULSIONS
PERSONNEL
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
PLEXIGLAS
POLYMERS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOGRAPHY
SAFETY
SHEETS
SHIELDING
SKIN
STANDARDS
TEETH
TISSUES
X RADIATION