Risks from dental radiation in 1995

Risks from dental radiation are primarily to the somatic tissues of exposed persons, although the genetic tissues may receive small amounts of radiation. Maximum permissible doses have been established at various levels depending on the tissue exposed and whether the exposure was occupational or non-occupational: for pregnant workers, the occupational exposure is 1/10 the normal limits. Risks from dental radiation is expressed as the number of extra fatal cancers per million exposed persons, referred to as relative risk. Generally, the relative risk is tenfold greater for the full mouth survey than for a simple panoramic radiograph. Several ways of reducing the risk, to patients as well as healthcare workers, are outlined.