Dental Radiation Health, Safety, and Protection, 3rd Edition

Course Overview
“Researchers link dental x-rays to brain tumors.” — American Cancer Society, 2012; study referenced in Rundell (2021)

The preceding quote presents dental x-rays in an ominous fashion and suggests a definitive etiologic link between dental x-rays and the development of brain tumors. However, the study titled “Dental X-rays and Risk of Meningioma” by Claus, Calvocoressi, Bondy, Schildkraut, Wiemels, and Wrensch, published in 2012, relied upon data collected from Dental Radiation Health: Safety and Protection in the Digital Age, 2nd Edition: x-rays taken decades ago when higher doses of radiation were utilized and patient recollection of the quantity of x-rays taken (Rundell, 2021).  Dental patients and dental professionals alike will recognize this headline. The biologic risks of radiation exposure associated with dental radiographic examinations have been a recurring topic in the national news media. Several published but controversial studies have suggested possible associations between dental radiographic examinations and conditions such as meningiomas (Auvinen et al., 2022) and thyroid cancer (Kosar & Koundal, 2022; Hwang et al., 2020). The public, including the patients who dental professionals treat in their practices, becomes more alarmed with each successive report. Without question, x-radiation is harmful; it is a known carcinogen. There is considerable evidence in the literature that ionizing radiation increases the risk of certain types of cancers, including leukemia and skin, lung, and thyroid cancers, to name a few (American Cancer Society, 2022). However, what is not known with certainty is the effect that low-dose diagnostic imaging exposures have on the human body. Although the risk of cancer from dental radiographic examinations is thought to be negligible, no radiation exposure is considered to be risk-free, and the effects of radiation are cumulative. For these reasons, radiation safety remains a top concern for the general public, and the dental professional needs to stay up to date on the latest research and current thinking on radiation safety and protection.

The purpose of this course is to review the biologic effects of radiation, the methods used in radiation measurement, and the potential sources of radiation exposure. This basic-level course will discuss radiation safety and protection measures for both patients and dental healthcare workers. Perhaps most important, this course will prepare all dental professionals—including dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants—to accurately respond to patient questions and concerns about radiation safety in dentistry.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Describe the biologic effects of radiation.
• Explain how radiation exposure is measured.
• Identify the different sources and amounts of natural and human-made radiation exposure.
• Identify methods for reducing patients’ and dental professionals’ exposure to radiation, including the most recent recommendations about shielding patients during x-rays.
• Answer common patient questions regarding radiation health and safety.

About the Author/Presenter 
Mark J. Szarejko, DDS, received his dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1985 and has received fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1994. He has been in private practice for 16 years with the balance involved in correctional (County Jail) dentistry from which he retired in 2023. In 2007 he received the Certified Correctional HealthCare Professional (CCHP) designation from the National Commission of Correctional Healthcare. He has authored and edited several dental continuing education courses and has given presentations on varied topics to local, regional, and national audiences. He has been an examiner for the dental and dental hygiene licensure exams for the Northeastern Regional Boards (NERBS), now the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments, since 1994. He has reviewed standard-of-care cases for the State of Florida and for private companies.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Dental AGD Code: 730

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us