Absorbed dose to peripheral organs during different methods of dental radiology using radiation estimation models

Introduction: Dental radiography as one of the most frequent type of radiological examinations is accepted for medical investigations due to their significant benefits nevertheless using ionizing radiation. It has lower radiation dose compared to another radiological examination but because of its high application for children, radiation dose needs attention. Based on affecting many parts of body without any diagnostic information by the radiation and large number of examinations in younger age groups, radiation protection is critical in dental radiography techniques. This study aimed to investigate absorbed dose to peripheral organs during different methods of dental radiology, radiation estimation models and also radiation protection techniques and instruments. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the literature published from 1990 to 2017 in the PubMed, scopus and web of science databases was performed. The following key words combined in different ways: dental radiography, dose and radiation protection. Results: CBCT has been discussed as a modality with the greatest radiation dose. Many studies indicated lower patient exposure despite the insignificant impact on the subject image quality, more sensitivity to radiation, which allows lower radiation dose using digital dental radiography. Monte Carlo computations have the ability of dose measurement at any point in the material when the presence of any physical detector is not required. Using high KVP, limited field of view, limitation of radiation field to the necessary anatomy, application of lead foil behind the dental film pockets, filtration, reducing exposure time and correct shield positioning for radiosensitive organs are recommended for radiation protection in dental radiography. Conclusion: dental radiography modalities leads to irradiating organs that are adjacent to the examined part that can be decreased using different protection techniques and instruments.