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Risk assessment: the philosophy underlying radiation protection
International Dental Journal
|March 1, 1987
Summary
Dental radiology uses ionizing radiation, posing risks of malignancy and genetic disorders. Minimizing patient and dental professional exposure through legislation and clinical justification is crucial for safety.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ionizing radiation's role in malignant disease and genetic disorders has been extensively studied over many years.
- International collaboration has led to recommendations and legislation for radiation protection in dental settings.
- Despite efforts, stochastic risks associated with radiation exposure cannot be entirely eliminated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of minimizing radiation risks in dental radiology.
- To highlight the need for clinical justification for all radiographic examinations.
- To ensure the collective dose from dental radiology is kept as low as reasonably achievable.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing understanding and collaborative efforts in radiation protection.
- Analysis of the balance between benefits and risks in dental radiography.
- Emphasis on legislative and practical measures for dose reduction.
Main Results:
- A number of fatal malignancies are likely induced annually due to dental radiology.
- Risks to dental professionals should be comparable to other daily life risks.
- Benefits of radiographic examinations must outweigh the associated risks for patients.
Conclusions:
- Proper clinical justification is essential for every dental radiograph.
- The dental profession must actively work to minimize the collective radiation dose to the population.
- Continuous efforts are needed to mitigate stochastic risks associated with dental X-ray use.