Organ dose and radiogenic risk in dental cone-beam computed tomography examinations

During the last decade, the development of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has led to a large range of imaging methods. CBCT has advantages compared to other extraoral radiographic imaging, but its contribution to radiation dose in patients is a point of concern. This study aims to provide a full understanding and determination of absorbed dose and an estimation of effective dose to the thyroid, bone marrow, salivary glands and brain in patients during CBCT examinations and to estimate the radiogenic risk resulting from radiation exposure. In this study, a total of 157 pediatric and adult patients with different indications were investigated at the dental clinic. All procedures were performed using Planmeca ProMax 3D Max. Sensitive organ equivalent doses were estimated using PCXMC software. Organ equivalent doses were also estimated using PCXMC software. The fixed tube voltage was set to 90.0 kVp, the mean tube current was 12.7.0 mA (range: 8.0 to 14.0) and the mean exposure time was 12.5 +/- 1.8 s (range: 12.0-16.0). The overall mean patient effective dose was 150.8 mu Sv (range: 22.4-210.0). Salivary gland equivalent dose was the highest of all the organs measured as no protective shield was used in these patients. Patient doses were slightly higher compared to those in previous studies. Poor patient protection conditions were noted. Staff training is a vital priority regardless of a low dose of CBCT compared to other imaging modalities.