International Journal of Radiation Research, January 2019 Volume 17, No 1 Diagnostic reference levels at intraoral and dental panoramic examinations INTRODUCTION Radiographs are essential in today’s medicine and especially in dental diagnosis. It is well known that ionizing radiation is used to get radiography of teeth. According to ALARA principle for radiation protection, dentists must expose patients to lowest possible radiation with sufficient quality of imaging. By this principle, also the public and professional exposures will be reduced. It is known that there is no limit for medical exposures, but diagnostic reference levels (DRLSs) for each practice must be respected. Because of the potential risks of radiation it is necessary to take precautions. Radiation can be considered safe, for patient and public as well as for occupational workers only when specific measures are taken, like as distance from radiation source, shielding, exposure time, orientation of the tube, type of collimator and tube parameters. Attention should be to primary and secondary (scattered) radiation. The amount of scattered radiation striking the patient’s abdomen during a properly conducted radiographic examination is negligible. Radiation exposure arising from dental radiology is considered low; a child may undergo repeated dental radiological procedures throughout childhood and adolescence. Thus, the risks associated with cumulative doses should be taken into consideration (1) .The thyroid gland is more susceptible to radiation exposure during dental radiographic exams given its anatomic position, particularly to children (2, 3) . Risk of cancer from radiation in children was more than adult and in female patients is more than male patients in G. Hodolli 1 , S. Kadiri 1 , G. Nafezi 1 , M.Bahtijari 2 , N. Syla 2* 1 Institute of Occupational Medicine, Radiation Protection Service, 15000 Kastriot, Kosovo 2 University of Prishtina “HasanPrishtina”, Department of Physics, 10000 Pristine, Kosovo ABSTRACT Background: The aim of this study was to measure and determine diagnostc reference levels (DRLs) of programs used at intraoral and dent panoramic examinatons in Kosovo. Materials and Methods: To determine DRL, were performed measurements for dose area product (DAP) at intraoral and dental panoramic radiology systems. This study has covered over 47% of X- ray units, which are in use for intraoral and panoramic imaging examinatons on the country. Results: From results, we conclude that, the mean of DAP (mGy cm 2 ) for single intraoral examinaton is 26.8, 29.6 and 39.7 for incisor, premolar and molar, respectvely. Therefore the mean of DAP (mGy cm 2 ) value for panoramic dental radiology is 62.7, 74.1 and 90.3 for child, adult and large adult, respectvely. For each modality menton above are proposed specifc DRLs. Conclusion: Recommended DRLs value for intraoral radiography for incisor, premolar and molar programs are: 28.5, 36.5 and 50.3 mGy cm 2 , respectvely. Also, DRLs for dental panoramic radiography for child, adult and large adult programs are: 73.0, 81.0 and 93.0 mGy cm 2 , respectvely. A beter quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) should be enforcement. For strengthening of QA and QC engagement of radiographers and Medical Physicist is mandatory. Keywords: Reference levels, dose area product, intraoral, panoramic, dent. *Corresponding authors: Naim Syla, Ph.D., Fax: +381 38 246 183 E-mail: naim.syla@uni -pr.edu Revised: December 2017 Accepted: April 2018 Int. J. Radiat. Res., January 2019; 17(1): 147-150 ► Short Report DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.17.1.147 Downloaded from ijrr.com at 12:35 +0330 on Saturday December 4th 2021