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Dose reduction of intraoral dental radiography in Spain

¹ Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100-Campus Espinardo (Murcia), Spain; ² Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100-Campus Espinardo (Murcia), Spain; ³ Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100-Campus Espinardo (Murcia), Spain; ⁴ Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100-Campus Espinardo (Murcia), Spain

*Correspondence to: Miguel Alcaraz, Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100-Campus Espinardo (Murcia), Spain; Email: mab{at}um.es

Received 30 May 2005; revised 2 November 2005; accepted 22 November 2005

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the influence of new European Union (EU) legislation on radiation doses in intraoral dental radiography in Spain.

Methods: A total of 10 109 official reports from Spanish dental offices covering the period 1996–2003 were analysed.

Results: The results point to a dose reduction of 19% in 7 years, with a mean dose of 3.11 mGy being administered in 2003. The third quartile value in 2002 was 4.8 mGy. Taking the EU recommended dose of 4 mGy as standard, 73.3% (2002) and 77.3% (2003) of installations are in compliance with the EU recommendations in Spain. However, there has been no further reduction in the last 3 years. The results showed that Ultraspeed dental X-ray film was used by 77.6% of the dentists in 1996–1997 and 82.3 in 2003. There was infrequent use of E-speed films (0.6%) and F-speed films (9.6%) in 2003. Statistical analysis pointed to significant differences between the doses administered and the type of processing used, the lowest exposures being measured in digital systems, which used significantly lower doses than both manual and automatic development, and when conventional radiographic films were used.

Conclusion: The introduction of new legislation has resulted in a gradual reduction in the dose administered in intraoral dental radiology in Spain.

Keywords: radiography, intraoral, dental; doses, radiation; radiology