Radiation guide

Radiation is energy emitted from a source that travels through space and may interact with matter. In the context of dentistry we are considering a specific type of radiation known as ionising radiation. Ionising radiation is radiation that can produce charged particles or ions when it interacts with matter.

Dentists make use of radiation when they produce an X-ray image of the dentition. During this process the patient is directly exposed to a quantity of radiation. Radiation is also scattered from the patient and so to a lesser extent the operator of the X-ray equipment could be exposed. We make use of the properties of radiation to produce the image but we know that too much radiation can be detrimental to health. We need to strike a balance between using just enough radiation to get the image we want whilst limiting our exposure to radiation to minimise the harmful effects. This balancing act, therefore, is to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.