Organ absorbed doses in intraoral dental radiography

A dental radiography unit operating at 70 kV (nominal) and 20 cm focus-skin distance was used to irradiate an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosemeters, in order to assess the variation in organ absorbed dose with intraoral periapical radiographic view. 14 views using the bisecting-angle technique and four views using the paralleling technique were studied. The results are presented and the doses and dose distributions examined. Doses for the paralleling and bisecting-angle techniques are compared, and the effects of focus-skin distance and beam collimation upon patient dosimetry discussed. Sources of uncertainty in dental dosimetry studies using phantoms are also considered.