Low-Dose Radiation Risks of Computerized Tomography and Cone Beam Computerized Tomography: Reducing the Fear and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Current radiation protection regulations rely on the linear no-threshold (LNT) model, positing a linear relationship between radiation dose and cancer risk.
• Medical and dental imaging, especially advanced techniques like computerized tomography (CT) and cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT), contribute to low-dose ionizing radiation exposure.
• The widespread adoption of CBCT in oral and maxillofacial surgery and implant dentistry has intensified concerns about potential health risks from radiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss the concerns surrounding radiation exposure from dental imaging modalities, with a specific focus on CT and CBCT.
• To highlight the lack of direct evidence linking dental CT/CBCT radiation doses to cancer induction despite existing regulatory frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of existing scientific evidence and regulatory principles.
• Discussion of the LNT model's applicability to low-dose radiation scenarios in dental imaging.

Main Results:

• The LNT model forms the basis for radiation protection guidelines, implying that even minimal radiation doses carry a risk.
• While concerns exist regarding CT and CBCT use in dentistry, direct epidemiological studies establishing a causal link between this specific radiation exposure and cancer are currently absent.

Conclusions:

• The application of the LNT model to dental imaging necessitates a careful consideration of risks versus benefits.
• Further research is required to definitively establish or refute a link between radiation from dental CT and CBCT and cancer induction, informing future clinical practice and regulatory adjustments.