Abstract
The present study aimed to identify the knowledge and attitudes of dental surgeons regarding the guidelines contained in Ordinance SVS/MS No. 453, dated June 1, 1998, in force until the year 2019 and later replaced with Collegiate Board Resolution (RDC) No. 330/19. Our objective was to identify the practices of professionals working in the dental field regarding the knowledge of the essential criteria for performing periapical, interproximal, panoramic, cephalometric or even cone beam computed tomography imaging exams. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of 45 questions based on Administrative Rule 453/98, which addresses the requirements for the organization and operation of diagnostic radiology services. The questionnaire was sent to 150 dentists via institutional e-mail, and only 55 professionals returned it. The responses revealed that 64% of the dentists declared not to be aware of the guidelines of ordinance 453/98 and 49.1% did not know the basic principles of radioprotection. Regarding the norms related to the environment, including the use of a chronometer, thermometer and time-temperature table, the study revealed that 83.6% of the interviewees did not use such equipment and that 74.5% of them were not aware of the technical details ofthe equipment. Regarding radiographic films, 64.5% answered that they did not know their sensitivity, and 25.5% did not use them as a protective barrier during the exams. Finally, the study revealed that the professional practices adopted by dental surgeons are insufficient to meet the principle contained in ordinance 453/98 and in the RDC 330/19, regarding the exposure of patients to a radiation dose.
Highlights
Since the discovery of X-rays in 1895, clinical conduct has changed from the "cut and see" era to the "see and cut"era, with radiographic examination gaining fundamental importance for the diagnosis, planning and follow-up of cases
Imaging examinations, whether periapical, interproximal, panoramic, cephalometric or even cone beam computed tomography, require low dose exposure, each exposure involves potential harm to the body due to its ability to induce biological effects, which fall into two categories, i.e., deterministic and stochastic
Even if the risk of occurrence of a primary cancer resulting from exposure during conventional dental radiography is considered negligible, the risks related to cumulative doses should not be underestimated
Summary
Since the discovery of X-rays in 1895, clinical conduct has changed from the "cut and see" era to the "see and cut"era, with radiographic examination gaining fundamental importance for the diagnosis, planning and follow-up of cases. Dentists are those who use imaging examinations the most (Ihle et al, 2019; Shahab et al, 2012). Imaging examinations, whether periapical, interproximal, panoramic, cephalometric or even cone beam computed tomography, require low dose exposure, each exposure involves potential harm to the body due to its ability to induce biological effects, which fall into two categories, i.e., deterministic and stochastic. Stochastic effects, on the other hand, are those due to exposure to any dose of radiation, with an all-or-nothing phenomenon of radiation-induced cancer occurring or not (Tsapaki, 2017; Chauhan & Wilkins, 2019). Even if the risk of occurrence of a primary cancer resulting from exposure during conventional dental radiography is considered negligible, the risks related to cumulative doses should not be underestimated. The use of radiation by the dentist comes with the responsibility to ensure adequate protection, exposing the patient to the lowest possible radiation dose (Binnal, 2013; An SY, 2018)
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