Knowledge and practice regarding safety standards of oral radiology among dental practitioners in western Maharashtra, India

To evaluate the knowledge and practice regarding safety standards of oral radiology among dental practitioners in Mumbai, India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 dental practitioners. Data related to methods of radiation protection were collected by a predesigned, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed and the results expressed in percentages.

The bisecting angle technique was preferred by 69.2 % of the practitioners. Most of the X-ray machines had a pointed cone (60.6 %) type of position-indicating device. Both conventional films and digital sensors were used as image receptors with slight preference for the latter (44.8 vs. 55.1 %, respectively). Approximately three-fourths of the dental practitioners (75.4 %) used E-speed films, and in 48.0 % of cases, either dentists or assistants held the X-ray film with their fingers while taking radiographs. Most of the practitioners used a lead apron for patient protection either regularly (23.6 %) or occasionally (48.0 %). A total of 40.9 % of the dentists stood near the patient without wearing a lead apron during exposure. Only 14.7 % were aware of the position-and-distance rule, which is used when no protective barrier is present. Nearly half of the dentists changed the exposure time according to the patient and region to be radiographed.

The results of this study indicate that more work must be done to increase the knowledge of radiation protection among practicing dentists.