Imaging Sci Dent.  2016 Jun;46(2):103-108. 10.5624/isd.2016.46.2.103.

A dose monitoring system for dental radiography

• Lee C
• Lee SS
• Kim JE
• Symkhampha K
• Lee WJ
• Huh KH
• Yi WJ
• Heo MS
• Choi SC
• Yeom HY

• KMID: 2308873
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2016.46.2.103

Abstract

PURPOSE
The current study investigates the feasibility of a platform for a nationwide dose monitoring system for dental radiography. The essential elements for an unerring system are also assessed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An intraoral radiographic machine with 14 X-ray generators and five sensors, 45 panoramic radiographic machines, and 23 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) models used in Korean dental clinics were surveyed to investigate the type of dose report. A main server for storing the dose data from each radiographic machine was prepared. The dose report transfer pathways from the radiographic machine to the main sever were constructed. An effective dose calculation method was created based on the machine specifications and the exposure parameters of three intraoral radiographic machines, five panoramic radiographic machines, and four CBCTs. A viewing system was developed for both dentists and patients to view the calculated effective dose. Each procedure and the main server were integrated into one system.
RESULTS
The dose data from each type of radiographic machine was successfully transferred to the main server and converted into an effective dose. The effective dose stored in the main server is automatically connected to a viewing program for dentist and patient access.
CONCLUSION
A patient radiation dose monitoring system is feasible for dental clinics. Future research in cooperation with clinicians, industry, and radiologists is needed to ensure format convertibility for an efficient dose monitoring system to monitor unexpected radiation dose.

Keyword

Protection; Radiation; Radiation Dosage; Radiography; Dental; Radiation monitoring

MeSH Terms

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Dental Clinics
Dentists
Humans
Methods
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Monitoring
Radiography
Radiography, Dental*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Items in a questionnaire for dental radiographic machines. *ESD: entrance surface dose, EAK: entrance air kerma, DAP: dose area product.

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  Fig. 2 Flows of the dose report and X-ray image obtained from different radiographic machines to the main server (--- single ouput port, ---- multiple output port).

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  Fig. 3 Schematic view of the dose report transfer, conversion, and store process in the dose monitoring system.

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