Re: Risk from a dental X-ray -Reply

[Kathleen Kaufman <KKAUFMAN@dhs.co.la.ca.us>]

When you say a "pair of bitewings" are you talking about two exposures,
or four? Bitewings normally consist of four exposures. Also, do you
know the effective dose for a full mouth series (18 films)? How about a
panorex exposure? Thanks!

kkaufman@dhs.co.la.ca.us

>>> <andrew_mcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz> 03/09/99 12:12pm >>>


The effective dose from a pair of bite wing dental radiographs is about 10
microsieverts.  This can be compared with about 40 microsieverts for a
PA
chest x-ray, and around 12 millisieverts for a abdominal CT examination.

Ten microsieverts is an equivalent dose to cosmic radiation received in
about two hours flying internationally on a polar route or about 2 days
exposure to natural sources of radiation at ground level..

Andrew McEwan

_________________________
Andrew C McEwan PhD
National Radiation Laboratory
PO Box 25-099
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph 64 3 366 5059
Fax 64 3 366 1156
Andrew_McEwan@nrl.moh.govt.nz


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