Absorbed radiation dose during lateral cephalometric radiography: comparison of screen-film systems and field-size combinations

Various methods have been proposed and investigated in order to reduce radiation exposure in cephalometric radiography. The aim of this study was to determine the radiation dose absorbed by nine specific superficial anatomical regions of the head and neck, in children aged 9 to 17 years, by the use of three combinations of intensifying screens and films and different field sizes. A dental X-ray unit (Ortho Phos, Siemens) was used for the radiographic exposures and the absorbed doses were measured via thermoluminescence dosemeters. The mean doses corresponding to the anatomical regions in question were higher with the first than with the other two techniques (p < 0.05) without the thyroid gland (p > 0.05) and in the third technique were lower than the doses of the other two techniques (p < 0.05) without the thyroid gland and the tip of the nose (p > 0.05).