Dose Reference Levels in Spanish Intraoral Dental Radiology: Stabilisation of the Incorporation of Digital Systems in Dental Clinical Practices

Abstract

A total of 34 044 official quality assurance reports in dental radiodiagnostic surgery from 16 regions of Spain, compiled from 2002 to 2014, were studied in order to determine the progress of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for obtaining diagnostic images under normal conditions for clinical practice in Spanish dental clinics. A DRL of 2.8 mGy was set in 2014, which represents a 41.7 % decrease compared with that of 2002 (4.8 mGy). Over the same time period, the mean dose fell by 55.2 %. However, over the last 3 y, the stabilisation of the mean dose administered to patients has been observed with only a 6.7 % reduction in DRLs, which corresponds to the stabilisation of dental radiodiagnostic surgery on replacing the use of radiographic film with digital imaging systems.

Backscatter factors calculation for intraoral dental radiology

“…This difference can be important when defining DRLs or when performing quality control tests. Some authors adopt a single BSF value equal to 1.1 [19] or 1.2 [6,20], regardless of beam HVL. In such cases, a mean Δ% of 10±4% (maximum of 18% for 70 kVp, PMMA) and 1±3% (maximum of 8% for 70 kVp, PMMA) is found, respectively.…”

Niveles de Referencia para Diagnóstico Locales en Procedimientos Radiográficos Dentales Periapicales. Primeros valores para Chile

“…Este valor fue menor que el estimado para Rumania en 2008 (Sorop et al, 2008) en un 39 % y que el estimado para Chipre en 2016 (Christofides et al, 2016) en un 23 %. En contraparte, superó en 70 % al publicado en 2008 para España (Alcaraz et al, 2016), en 51 % al publicado para Grecia en 2013 (Manousaridis et al, 2013), en 107 % al reportado para Alemania en 2006 (Poppe et al) y en un 132 % al determinado para Japón en 2017 (Izawa et al, 2017). No obstante, se encuentra dentro del rango recomendado para 36 países de Europa en 2014 (5 -7 mGy) (European Commission 180, 2014).…”

“…País/Autor Adulto Niño País/Autor Adulto Niño Alemania (Poppe et al) 2,7 -Comisión Europea (EC 136, 2004) 4,0 -Rumania (_orop et al, 2008) 9,2 -Alemania (Poppe et al) 1,2 -España (Alcaraz et al, 2016) 3,3 -Reino Unido (Hart et al, 2007) 2,3 1,5 Grecia (Manousaridis et al, 2013) 3,7 -Irlanda (Fanning, 2008) 2,3 -Comisión Europea (EC 180, 2014) 5,0 -7,0 -Corea (Kim et al, 2012) 3,1 -Chipre (Christofides et al, 2016) 7,2 -Grecia (Manousaridis et al) 2,4 -Japón (Izawa et al, 2017) 2,4 -Este estudio 5,6 4,0 Este estudio 9,2 1,8…”

Towards the Establishment of Diagnostic Reference Levels in Saudi Arabia: Review and Opinion

“…However, dental radiography is one of the most frequent diagnostic procedures (~ 25% of total diagnostic examinations), particularly the intraoral procedures. Dental radiography DRLs should be included in the national DRLs establishment plan, because of the high frequency uses (Alcaraz et al, 2016).…”