DOSES FOR THE EYE LENS AND THYROID IN DENTAL RADIOLOGY: EXPERIENCE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL

Guillermo Alberto Lopez; Paulo Sergio Flores Campos

Volume : IV, Issue : V, May - 2015

DOSES FOR THE EYE LENS AND THYROID IN DENTAL RADIOLOGY: EXPERIENCE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL

Guillermo Alberto Lopez, Paulo Sergio Flores Campos

Abstract :

X–rays are electromagnetic waves that have important physical properties, such as: a) the blackening of photographic film; b) the production of secondary or scattered radiation when passing through the body; c) dissemination in a straight line and in all directions; d) the ability to pass through a body that is directly proportional to the tube voltage (kV) in the equipment used; e) obedience to the inverse square law (1 / r 2); f) inducing genetic mutations by interacting with reproductive cells. The objective of this study was to compare the radiation doses obtained from two types of radiological equipment, both of the Kodak� 2200 Intraoral X–ray System, with similar characteristics used for digital periapical x–rays. Input doses for organs were measured using a skull prototype containing dry bone and material equivalent to human tissue. To measure the input doses, a Radcal� Accu–Gold� radiodiagnostic solid state sensor was used to measure and compare the effective doses displayed on the equipment with what was actually captured in the sensor. Using a 60 kV and 70 kV voltage, the following results were obtained: the mean radiation dose was 0.010 mGy in the lens, and 0.470 mGy in the thyroid. The results were compared with those of other studies using similar protocols and intraoral devices. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that radiation exposure conditions that patients are subjected to in dental radiographic procedures should be observed with great accuracy, as the risk of possible biological effects can be reduced if optimum technical parameters are used.