AAPM/Image Gently kicks off their Image in Dentistry campaign!
Image Gently has great news! As you know, AAPM is a member of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging – the Image Gently Alliance. Our news is we are now reaching out to the Dental Community with the next campaign message: Image Gently in Dentistry.
Along with dental professionals who wish to optimize the radiation dose used in dental imaging exams performed on children, the campaign message is simple: When performing dental exams on children:
- Select X-rays for individual needs, not as a routine. Use X-rays only when essential for diagnosis and treatment — based on a review of the patient and their dental history.
- Use the fastest image receptor available. When film X-ray is used, select “E”- or “F”-speed. Set exposure parameters as low as possible for diagnostic digital imaging.
- Use cone-beam CT (CBCT) only when necessary. CBCT should be restricted in children to cases in which it is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Collimate beam to area of interest. For intraoral X-rays, collimation should be rectangular to match recording area of detector. For extraoral X-rays, including cone-beam CT, restrict beam to the area needed for diagnosis.
- Always use thyroid shield. The thyroid gland in children is particularly sensitive to radiation. Use of a properly positioned shield significantly reduces the dose to the thyroid.
- Child-size the exposure time. Less exposure time needed for children as oral structures are smaller than in adults.
The campaign launches today, September 24 and will be announced and celebrated at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and the American Dental Association. The AAOMR meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida from September 24, 2014 to September 27, 2014. The ADA meeting will be in San Antonio, Texas from October 9, 2014 to October 14, 2014.
We invite you to share this message with your friends and colleagues in the dental community (and with your dentist!) The Image Gently Web site (www.imagegently.org) always contains the latest research and educational materials to help imaging providers determine the appropriate radiation techniques to use in the imaging of children, as well as helpful protocols for you to follow at your facility. This is also information to pass along to parents.
This effort would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support and collaboration from the Dental community: to date the following related organizations have joined the Alliance:
- American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Academy of Periodontology American Association of Endodontics
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- American Dental Association
- American Dental Education Association
- American Dental Hygienist’ Association
- Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- The European Academy of DentoMaxilloFacial Radiology
Click here to visit the Image Gently website today and pledge to do your part to “child-size” the radiation dose used in children’s imaging. Your active participation is appreciated.