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A radiographic method for measuring radiation dose based on beam quality
K Syriopoulos1, X L Velders, W G Geraets
1Department of Oral Radiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands.
Objectives:
To develop a radiographic method for measuring radiation dose based on beam quality for inexpensive postal surveys of general dental practitioners.
Methods:
Different beam qualities were simulated to expose a commercially available film (X-Omat MA 18 x 22.4 cm, Ready Pack, Kodak Pathe, Paris, France). Density and contrast curves were fitted by means of 4th-degree polynomial functions. The curves were used to estimate beam quality (as the first HVL) and radiation dose in air for 22 different dental X-ray machines by means of linear interpolation. These estimations were compared with the measurements obtained with the NERO system and an ionization chamber (paired t-test).
Results:
No significant differences were found between the radiographic and the conventional methods in determining beam quality and radiation dose.
Conclusions:
The radiographic method can be used to determine beam quality and radiation dose of dental X-ray machines from a single exposure. The radiographic method is simple and inexpensive and causes a minimum of disruption to the dental practice.