[Establishment of Diagnostic Reference Levels for Dental Radiography in 2023]

Recent studies have focused on radiation exposure in patients undergoing medical imaging examinations utilizing ionizing radiation. Striving for optimal radiation doses according to the principles of justification and optimization is essential. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for various imaging devices have been in place since 2007, and DRLs for intraoral and panoramic radiography were established following a nationwide survey in 2009. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) DRLs were established for the first time in 2018. The status of diagnostic radiography equipment used in dentistry was assessed to select the study subjects. A survey form was developed to compare the DRL values for dental radiography with published in ROK in 2019. We investigated DRLs for specific radiographic procedures in adults and children. Dose values were collected using radiographic equipment at dental university hospitals and dental hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Exposure information and equipment details were analyzed along with the collected data. Based on the measured dose values, exposure conditions and the average, minimum, maximum, 25th percentile, and 75th percentile dose values were obtained. Additionally, the most frequent exposure conditions were analyzed. Based on this information, the proposed national DRLs for dental radiography for 2023 follow: adult intraoral radiography 48 mGy‧cm², panoramic radiography 354 mGy‧cm², CBCT 1,856 mGy‧cm², child intraoral radiography 31 mGy‧cm², panoramic radiography 224 mGy‧cm², CBCT 1,350 mGy‧cm². We hope that this study will contribute to the optimization of patient radiation doses for dental radiography.