Application of segmented dental panoramic tomography among children: positive effect of continuing education in radiation protection

Abstract

Objectives: Dental panoramic tomography is the most frequent examination among 7-12-year olds, according to the Radiation Safety and Nuclear Authority of Finland. At those ages, dental panoramic tomographs (DPTs) are mostly obtained for orthodontic reasons. Children's dose reduction by trimming the field size to the area of interest is important because of their high radiosensitivity. Yet, the majority of DPTs in this age group are still taken by using an adult programme and never by using a segmented programme. The purpose of the present study was to raise the awareness of dental staff with respect to children's radiation safety, to increase the application of segmented and child DPT programmes by further educating the whole dental team and to evaluate the outcome of the educational intervention. Methods: A five-step intervention programme, focusing on DPT field limitation possibilities, was carried out in community-based dental care as a part of mandatory continuing education in radiation protection. Application of segmented and child DPT programmes was thereafter prospectively followed up during a 1-year period and compared with our similar data from 2010 using a logistic regression analysis. Results: Application of the child programme increased by 9% and the segmented programme by 2%, reaching statistical significance (odds ratios 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.23-2.30; p-value , 0.001). The number of repeated exposures remained at an acceptable level. The segmented DPTs were most frequently taken from the maxillary lateral incisor-canine area. Conclusions: The educational intervention resulted in improvement of radiological practice in respect to radiation safety of children during dental panoramic tomography. Segmented and child DPT programmes can be applied successfully in dental practice for children. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2016) 45, 20160104. doi: 10.1259/dmfr.20160104 Cite this article as: Pakbaznejad Esmaeili E, Waltimo-Sirén J, Laatikainen T, Haukka J, Ekholm M. Application of segmented dental panoramic tomography among children: positive effect of continuing education in radiation protection. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2016; 45: 20160104.

Patient safety incidents in dentomaxillofacial imaging: reported adverse events from Hospital District Helsinki and Uusimaa and the City of Helsinki during 2012–2017

“…In contrast, many radiation protection studies in DMFR have been reported. Some of these note that different features of two-dimensional (2D) imaging devices have a positive effect on patient safety by providing diverse imaging protocols, better shielding options, and advanced technical features [ 5 , 6 ]. All of these attributes, either by themselves or when used according to the basic radiation protection principle ‘ALARA’ (as low as reasonably achievable), reduce patients’ radiation dose.…”

Radiation Dose and Risk in Dental Panoramic Radiography: literature review

“…This discrepancy maybe due to the variation in the patients' size, exposure parameters, number, location, and type of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), as well as the panoramic units used in these studies [3]. The size of the exposed area is one of the most important parameters that influence the patient dose [26]. In DPR there is a difference in absorbed dose depending on the area.…”