Manejo de las radiaciones ionizantes en instalaciones dentales españolas: intraorales y panorámicos / Use of ionizing radiations in Spanish dental equipments: intraoral and panoramic

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las características de la radiología dental en la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia, con el propósito de poder evaluar el grado de cumplimiento de las recomendaciones Oficiales de la Unión Europea. Para ello se estudian 1822 informes oficiales de control de calidad en radiodiagnóstico dental intraoral y 157 pertenecientes a exámenes panorámicos durante cinco años consecutivos. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto que un tercio de los equipos dentales intraorales revisados presentan averías en su funcionamiento y un 6’24% en el caso de los panorámicos. Solamente un 63.54% de las instalaciones intraorales cumplirían con las recomendaciones oficiales al emplear equipos modernos que funcionan a 70 kVp, 8 mA, 20 cm. de distancia foco piel y 1.5 mm de Al. Se ha producido un descenso del 11.53% en las dosis medias administradas a lo largo del estudio, aumentando la empleada con aparatos panorámicos. La entrada en vigor de esta nueva legislación ha supuesto un descenso en las dosis medias de radiación administradas a los pacientes tras los cinco años de evolución analizados aunque se sigue incumpliendo las recomendaciones oficiales europeas sobre Protección Radiológica (AU)

The aim of the study was to determinate Dental Radiology behaviour in Murcia Community to control the European Union Recommendations. 1822 official reports on quality assurance in intraoral radiology and 155 official reports on panoramic radiology have been studied. The results indicate that one and a half of intraoral radiographic equipments studied and 6’24% in panoramic had alterations. Only the 63'54% of the surgeries achived the European Community Recommendations of intraoral radiology working to 70 kVp, 8 mA and 1.5 mm of Al. There have been a decrease of the intraoral radiation dose exposured.The recent legislation have meant a decrease in the intraoral radiation dose administrated despite of the unachivement of European Community Recommendations (AU)

The status of Spain's dental practices following the European Union directive concerning radiological installations.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of new European Union (EU) legislation on dental radiology practices and the reduction in patient radiation exposure. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 7176 official reports from Spanish dental offices or clinics covering the period 1996 to 2001 were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the dental radiological installations inspected in 2001, 72.79% used the kilovoltage recommended by the EU (70 kVp) and 98.85% used at least 1.5 mm Al filtration. At least 90.11% of the installations had a focal film distance of 20 cm although there were no cases with a rectangular collimator as adapted to the size of film. Thirty percent of the installations showed a mechanical fault every year. In 17.62% of cases the radiological film was stored in the exposure room. Few clinics (10.24%) used high-speed films and only 11.95% of clinics employed digital systems. The mean dose received by patients fell during the 5 years studied by 18.75%. Radiological equipment fulfilling the EU specifications emitted significantly lower doses than other nonapproved equipment. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of legislation has resulted in a gradual improvement in dental radiology practices.