Health risk assessment of doses to patients\' eyes from dental X-ray examination

Abstract

The skin entry dose to patients\' eyes during dental x-ray examination was carried out on one hundred and ten patients comprising infants and adult of both sexes. The dose measurements was performed at Alpha dental centre, Ibadan, using Lithium fluoride thermoluminiscent dosimeters (TLD). The results of the study showed that the mean absorbed dose of the entire population is 0.438 mGy. The mean absorbed doses (mGy) for patients below 18yrs, between18-45 yrs and above 45yrs are 0.283, 0.461, and 0.391 respectively. A paired t-test was used to compare absorbed dose by the patients with the maximum permissible dose limit of 1mGy recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The result of the t-test indicates the mean absorbed dose is significantly less than 1mGy. Also sex and age groupings show no significant effect on the absorbed dose. It is nevertheless, desirable to limit patients to the minimum exposure value consistent with the medical requirements.

Keywords:X-radiation, thermoluminiscent dosimeters, absorbed dose.

Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 18 (2) 2006: pp. 235-240