Imaging Sci Dent.  2012 Dec;42(4):237-242. 10.5624/isd.2012.42.4.237.

Diagnostic reference levels in intraoral dental radiography in Korea

• Kim EK
• Han WJ
• Choi JW
• Jung YH
• Yoon SJ
• Lee JS

• KMID: 1806790
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2012.42.4.237

Abstract

PURPOSE
The objectives of this study were to survey the radiographic exposure parameters, to measure the patient doses for intraoral dental radiography nationwide, and thus to establish the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in intraoral dental X-ray examination in Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred two intraoral dental radiographic machines from all regions of South Korea were selected for this study. Radiographic exposure parameters, size of hospital, type of image receptor system, installation duration of machine, and type of dental X-ray machine were documented. Patient entrance doses (PED) and dose-area products (DAP) were measured three times at the end of the exit cone of the X-ray unit with a DAP meter (DIAMENTOR M4-KDK, PTW, Freiburg, Germany) for adult mandibular molar intraoral dental radiography, and corrections were made for room temperature and pressure. Measured PED and DAP were averaged and compared according to the size of hospital, type of image receptor system, installation duration, and type of dental X-ray machine.
RESULTS
The mean exposure parameters were 62.6 kVp, 7.9 mA, and 0.5 second for adult mandibular molar intraoral dental radiography. The mean patient dose was 2.11 mGy (PED) and 59.4 mGycm2 (DAP) and the third quartile one 3.07 mGy (PED) and 87.4 mGycm2 (DAP). Doses at university dental hospitals were lower than those at dental clinics (p<0.05). Doses of digital radiography (DR) type were lower than those of film-based type (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
We recommend 3.1 mGy (PED), 87.4 mGycm2 (DAP) as the DRLs in adult mandibular molar intraoral dental radiography in Korea.

Keyword

Radiation Protection; Radiation Dosage; Radiography, Dental

MeSH Terms

Adult
Dental Clinics
Humans
Korea
Molar
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Protection
Radiographic Image Enhancement
Radiography, Dental
Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The ionization chamber of DAP meter is positioned at the end of the exit cone of the intraoral X-ray machine for PED and DAP measurement.

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  Fig. 2 Measured PED values for intraoral dental radiography.

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  Fig. 3 Measured DAP values for intraoral dental radiography.

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