An evaluation of radiation dose from dental cone-beam computed tomography

Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has enormous features including better image quality, acceptable size, and a lower radiation dose than those of helical computerized tomography (CT) scanning. Moreover, CBCT is more suitable for dentists to obtain and analyse images and it is more comfortable for patients due to technological enhancements. CBCT produces three-dimensional (3D) images of the head and neck and is being used in the various fields of dentistry such as dental surgery, endodontic, trauma, implant dentistry, lesions and diseases in the head and neck and orthodontics. In this work, four protocols were examined. Three voxel size settings were evaluated: 420 μm, 380 μm and 320 μm. Field of view and voltage tube were constant at (13cmx15cm) and 90 kV. The absorbed doses and effective doses were calculated for each CBCT scan protocols. A direct relationship was found between effective dose and the resolution options with lower resolution yielding lower effective dose. Modification of resolution options leads to changes in effective doses. This study emphasized the importance of selecting exposure parameters in terms of voxel size settings or resolution options.