For this purpose, you should pay attention to several important points:
1- It is better for the dentist to request the most suitable radiographs in terms of type and number after the clinical examination of the patient and taking into account the history and oral health status of the patient.
2- Radiographs should be prepared using digital technique. Today's digital sensors have significantly reduced the patient's radiation dose compared to conventional films.
3- Use of lead apron and lead thyroid protector. The thyroid gland may be exposed to x-rays during intraoral radiography examinations, and the thyroid protective collar reduces exposure to this gland during dental x-rays, so the thyroid protective collar should always be closed when preparing intraoral radiographs. Since the radiation dose to other body organs in intraoral radiography is very small, the National Radiation Protection Council(NCRP) has concluded that the use of a lead apron is unnecessary for all patients and its use is recommended only for children and pregnant women. When preparing a panoramic radiograph, it is only possible to use a lead cover and you cannot use a thyroid shield because it may prevent the radiation from reaching the chin and mandible bone and thus lead to the repetition of the radiograph, considering that the radiation dose in this radiograph is low (equivalent to four bitewing radiographs), the thyroid gland receives a small dose of radiation.
