The Safe Use of Radiography in Children

By Ann M. Bruhn, RDH, BSDH, MS, Jessica Suedbeck, RDH, MSDH
Because ionizing radiation can cause biological health risks, oral health professionals must be knowledgeable about radiation safety standards.1,2 While the discussion regarding radiation exposure risk is often focused on the medical field, there is ongoing concern regarding possible health hazards posed by low-dose dental radiographs, as they may be prescribed more frequently than medical images. The As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) radiation safety principle is important for oral health professionals to adopt—and is even more essential when treating pediatric patients because radiation exposure poses a significant risk to developing organs and tissues.3 While radiographs are critical to diagnosing dental disease and for assessing growth and development in pediatric patients, children’s tissues may be at greater risk of ionizing radiation due to their small size, which puts them closer to the primary beam of radiation. In addition, children usually require a decrease in the exposure settings to produce quality radiographic images because their bone structure is not as dense as adults.4
* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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