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Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2005) 34, 304-307
© 2005 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/dmfr/38802780

RESEARCH

Quality control and diagnostic reference levels in intraoral dental radiographic facilities

K Hatziioannou*,1, E Psarouli2, E Papanastassiou3, P Bousbouras4, H Kodona1, O Kimoundri1 and M Delichas3

1 Medical Physics Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece; 2 Medical Physics Department, Ippokratio University Hospital, 54250 Thessaloniki, Greece; 3 Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece; 4 Social Security Institution, 19 Aristotelous st., 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece

*Correspondence to: Konstantinos Hatziioannou, Medical Physics Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece; E-mail: hatzikim{at}panafonet.gr

Received 22 December 2004; revised 16 May 2005; accepted 16 June 2005

Objectives: A quality control program in intraoral radiographic equipment was conducted aiming to verify compliance with the latest legal requirements and to measure radiation dose in order to contribute to the establishment of appropriate diagnostic reference levels.

Methods: This study was performed in 191 intraoral radiographic facilities in Northern Greece. The quality control program included visual inspection of the unit, registration of its characteristics, measurement and calculation of several radiological parameters, including entrance surface dose, and overall compliance with legislation requirements.

Results: Most units (61.8%) were found to perform within their corresponding specifications. Exposure timer accuracy was the parameter that the dental units showed the poorest performance. Inadequate beam filtration was found in almost half of the older 50 kVp units. Entrance surface dose showed significant discrepancies, varying from 0.30 mGy to 16.09 mGy with a third quartile value of 3.37 mGy.

Conclusions: A diagnostic reference level of 3.5 mGy is considered to be a realistic value for all intraoral equipment currently operating in Greece. However, for newly installed units, a value of 2.8 mGy is considered to be more appropriate.

Keywords: quality control; entrance dose; DRLs






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