OPTIMIZATION NEED OF DENTAL RADIODIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES - RESULTS OF EFFECTIVE DOSE EVALUATION FROM RANDO PHANTOM MEASUREMENTS

Radiological examinations of different types are needed in dental practice both to make a correct diagnosis and to carry out, consequently, an adequate therapy. Particularly in orthodontic practices. because of the youth of the majority of the patients, an assessment of the detriment to health (through the effective dose evaluation) caused by medical diagnostic exposure to ionising radiation is needed to make decisions about the optimisation of dental radiodiagnostic procedures. Experimental data from measurements on a Rando phantom were collected for the radiological examinations required for dental and for orthodontic practices (with and without protective apron and collar). The results show the effectiveness of the leaded apron and collar in all the examinations carried out, particularly in reducing thyroid dose.