تحقیقات سلامت در جامعه (May 2024)
Investigation of the Level of Radiation Leakage in the Dental Clinics in Kashan City, Iran in 2023
Abstract
Introduction and purposeUse of radiological equipment in dentistry is vital for the diagnosis and treatment of oral and dental diseases. However, concerns about the leakage of radiation from these devices and its impact on public health are inevitable. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of radiation leakage in dental clinics in the city of Kashan, Iran, and its results can significantly contribute to the improvement of the safety of these environments. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 30 randomly selected dental clinics. Data collection was performed using the Smart Ion Mini_Instruments Ltd (UK) for measuring radiation leakage, along with observations and inquiries to obtain demographic and protective information. The collected data were entered into the SPSS 24 and analyzed using statistical tests. Results: Based on the findings, 6 out of the 30 sampled clinics had radiation leakage values higher than the permissible limit, while 24 clinics were within the safe range. Moreover, in assessing the relationship between variables and radiation leakage, no significant correlation was found between radiation leakage and the demographic information of radiologists, such as gender, specialty, and work experience. Among protective measures, the presence of lead shielding showed the highest significant correlation with radiation leakage. Conclusion: The study showed that 20% of the sampled offices had a high radiation leakage rate and that protective measures, especially the use of lead shields, were very important in reducing the radiation leakage rate in dental offices. The results indicated that the offices that used lead shields had less radiation leakage than other offices. Lack of a significant relationship between the demographic information of radiographers and the amount of radiation leakage indicated that this phenomenon is more related to technical factors and radiation equipment rather than personal factors, such as gender or expertise. These results revealed the necessity of emphasizing education and retraining and the implementation of safety standards and guidelines related to the use of radiology equipment in dental environments, as well as the necessity of periodic visits to dental offices.
