CURRENT STATUS OF THE RADIATION HYGIENE ON DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY IN JAPAN-1982-

PART 2 SURVEY OF EXPOSURE FACTORS AND THE FREQUENCY OF DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY

Abstract

A nationwide survey was made of the exposure factors and the frequency of dental radiography at dental clinics and dental departments of general hospitals of whole Japan in 1982.
The data obtained were used to estimate the total number of dental radiography in Japan and can also be applied to the estimation of population dose.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. More than 80% of the dental X-ray units surveyed had open-end cylindrical cones.
2. The average diameter of exposure field at skin surface during intraoral radiography by institution was estimated to be 8.5cm for dental clinics and 9.0cm for dental departments of general hospitals.
3. The total number of intraoral radiography taken throughout Japan in 1982 was estimated to be 8, 262×10⁴, While there were 933×10⁴ panorama exposures.
4. Approximately 50% of all intraoral radiography performed in Japan could have been accomplished by smaller field sizes.