Evaluation of Radiation Exposure Due to Dental Radiographs Taken during Endodontic Treatment Sessions in Young Permanent Teeth

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the duration of treatment and the number of dental radiographs taken during endodontic treatment (endo-t) of young permanent teeth (YPT). Materials and Methods: Age, gender, affected tooth number, apex status, duration of treatment and dental radiographs taken during this period were retrospectively evaluated in pediatric patients aged 6-15 years who presented to the pedodontic department for endo-t of anterior YPT. Data were analyzed with Kruskal Wallis H, Dunn and Pearson chi-square tests. p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant in all analyses. Results: Anterior endo-t was initiated in 471 of 9,200 pedodontic patients between the ages of 6 and 15 years who applied to our university. The reason for seeking treatment was caries (8.1%) and trauma (91.9%). It was observed that 59% of the teeth had an open apex and 45.7% had a closed apex. A total of 1893 periapical radiographs (Per-R) and 245 panoramic radiographs (Pan-R) were taken from 471 pediatric patients during the treatment period. Total number of dental radiographs was 2138 with 4.5 per patient. Number of Per-R was lower in patients whose treatment was completed in a single session (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the number of Pan-R with respect to duration of treatment (p = 0.560). Conclusions: In children, the number of Per-R significantly increased with prolonged duration of treatment encompassing multiple sessions for endo-t procedures of anterior YPT, decided based on the apex and lesion status of the affected tooth. Especially in long-term traditional apexification treatments, treatment should be carried out in children with the ALADAIP (As Low As Diagnostically Achievable being Indication-oriented and Patient-specific) principle in mind.