Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal
Main page Back issues Editorial board Information

2003, Vol. 5, No. 4

CONTENTS

CLINICAL ARTICLES

Restorative Factors that Affect the Biomechanics of the Dental Implant

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

The Influence of Sodium Fluoride on Chemiluminescence of Neutrophilic Leukocytes

Evaluation of Dental Health of Dental Students at Kaunas University of Medicine

Bone Mineral Density and Radiographic Mandibular Body Height

An in vitro study of the Sealing Ability of Materials Used for Furcation Perforation Treatment

Factors influencing the health of periodontal tissue and intensity of dental caries

Status of Individual Dosimetry for Dentists in Lithuania in year 1996-2001

CASE REPORTS

An Atraumatic Technique for Fabricating Precise Impressions

© 2004 Stomatologija

Stomatologija 2003; 5 (4): 149-51 163 KB

Status of Individual Dosimetry for Dentists in Lithuania
in year 1996-2001

Deimante Ivanauskaite, Birute Griciene

Summary

Occupational exposure to radiation for dentists can occur as result of work with dental X-ray equipment. Since 1995 a part of dentists started to work with dental X-ray equipment in Lithuania. Individual dosimetry is performed in order to control occupational exposure and it shows the number of dentists working with dental X-ray equipment. The aim of study was to analyze number of dentists working with dental X-ray equipment and status of individual dosimetry for dentists in Lithuania in 1996 - 2001.

The ratio dentists working with dental X-ray equipment from all dentists was found. The measurements of doses for dentists were performed in Subdivision of Individual Dosimetry of Radiation Protection Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania. The “Rados” thermoluminescent dosimetry system (Finland) was used. Each dentist who was working with dental X-ray equipment got an individual dosimeter with personal number. The dose measurement period was once in three months. The operational dose quantities used for external exposure were the personal dose equivalent Hp (10), where minimum registered dose was 0.01mSv. Detailed analysis of individual doses received by dentists was performed.

The number of dentists working with dental X-ray equipment increased from 68 to 237 since 1996 to 2001. The ratio of dentists working with X-ray equipment from all dentists increased from 3.98 % to 9.07 %. A majority of dentists did not receive occupational annual recording level (1.00 mSv). The highest individual occupational annual dose for dentist was 2.7 mSv. The highest average occupational annual dose for dentists was 1.16 in 1997 and the lowest was 0.74 mSv in 1996.

In conclusion, there is small number of dentists working with dental X-ray equipment and it increased slowly in Lithuania. The annual effective doses of dentists in Lithuania in 1996 to 2001 are not exceeding approved dose limits for radiation workers.

Key words: exposure, individual dosimetry, thermoluminescent dosimeter, dentist

Address correspondence to Dr.Deimante Ivanauskaite, Institute of Stomatology Vilnius University, Zalgirio str. 115, 2042 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: deimantei@one.lt

Received: 10 09 2003

Accepted for publishing: 27 11 2003