An Assessment of the Public's Perceptions of Radiation Exposure and Risk Associated With Dental Radiographs: A Cross-Sectional Study.

backgroundIonizing radiation exposure is an ever-present part of the dental diagnostic process. A public concern often exists due to the misunderstanding of the stochastic effects of dental X-rays. This information can be difficult to explain to the patient since many patients are apprehensive about the subject matter.

objectiveThis article aims to assess the public's knowledge of radiation exposure and estimate the general concern or apprehension about these diagnostic imaging modalities in an effort to understand and therefore ensure patient reassurance during treatment.

methodA questionnaire was conducted asking adults between the ages of 18 to 74 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia questions pertaining to radiation risk.

resultsThere were 105 respondents; 21.9% showed concerns toward dental imaging, while 20% were skeptical. approximately 74% of respondents believed there was a limit to the amount of radiation exposure a patient could receive for diagnostic purposes, while only eight percent correctly identified that there was no set limit. Only 21.9% knew that a breastfeeding mother could have dental X-rays if need be; 33.3% understood that ionizing radiation from an intra-oral dental X-ray caused less exposure than natural background radiation from a return flight from Jeddah to Dammam.  Conclusions: Patients are not aware of ionizing radiation exposure equivalencies between different imaging modalities. A more effective approach to convey exposure risk would be relating the radiation doses to natural background radiation as comparators.