Radiation exposure in pediatric dentistry: Current standards in pedodontic radiology with suggestions for alternatives

Introduction The most frequent radiographic examination for children is a dental radiographic examination. During the years from 1961 to 1970, there was a 34% increase in the number of dental radiographic visits for children (Table 1). During this same interval, there has been decline in the average number of films exposed per visit. The trend, therefore, is for increasing numbers of children to be radiographed while visiting the dentist, but with fewer films per examination; the causes for this pattern are not clear. In large part, however, it may be accounted for by increasing numbers of children visiting the dentist.