Radiation Protection In Dental Radiology

X ray imaging is used extensively in dentistry to diagnose symptoms, plan and monitor treatments and to follow up pathoses. This Safety Report provides guidance on meeting the requirements for radiation protection and safety in uses of ionizing radiation in dentistry established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3, Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. It includes guidelines for the justification and appropriateness of medical exposure, and the optimization of radiation protection and safety for patients, carers and dental staff, with detail on considerations relevant for children and pregnant women. Quality assurance, dosimetry and the operation of dental radiological equipment are also discussed. This publication is intended for dental practitioners, referring medical practitioners, medical radiation technologists and other dental health professionals, as well as medical physicists, radiation protection experts, manufacturers and regulators.

This code has been prepared to provide specific guidance to the dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, and other support persons concerned with safety procedures & equipment performance, on the requirements for safe use of radiation emitting equipment. Topics covered include the responsibility of the facility owner & equipment operators, dental facility requirements (design, radiation protection, inspection), specifications for newly acquired & existing dental x-ray equipment, film processing & handling, quality assurance & control, procedures to reduce radiation exposure to personnel, and minimizing radiation exposure to patients. Appendices include tables showing recommended radiation dose limits and specifications for shielding, a glossary, and excerpts from regulations concerning radiation emitting devices.

"X ray imaging is used extensively in dentistry to diagnose symptoms, plan and monitor treatments and to follow up pathoses. This Safety Report provides guidance on meeting the requirements for radiation protection and safety in uses of ionizing radiation in dentistry established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3, Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. It includes guidelines for the justification and appropriateness of medical exposure, and the optimization of radiation protection and safety for patients, carers and dental staff, with detail on considerations relevant for children and pregnant women. Quality assurance, dosimetry and the operation of dental radiological equipment are also discussed. This publication is intended for dental practitioners, referring medical practitioners, medical radiation technologists and other dental health professionals, as well as medical physicists, radiation protection experts, manufacturers and regulators."--Publisher's description.

" ... This report is concerned with both the design and operational aspects of dental x-ray equipment, and matters relating to structural shielding design."--Preface, page iii.

The second edition of this successful textbook offers support for learners and continues to provide a significant reference text suitable for all Dental Care Professionals. Offering a clear, easy-to-follow, comprehensive account of all aspects of dental radiography essential to this group of professionals, this book is an important resource that renders it essential reading, particularly for those undertaking examinations in Dental Radiography. Presents the subject in an accessible format - highly illustrated, with short paragraphs, bulleted lists and flow diagrams Clear line diagrams help readers learn to interpret the radiographs Contains what the dental care professional needs to know and no more, i.e. basic principles of background science, practical details of radiography and an elementary account of radiological interpretation Written by the best known UK textbook author in the subject area, who has been heavily involved in the British Dental Association's highly successful on-line course in dental radiography dental nurses Digital imaging techniques are embedded in the main text and a short chapter on Cone Beam CT has been added to render the book fully compatible with recent changes in practice