Absorbed Dose and Image Quality of X-Ray Diagnostics in Composite and Amalgam Dental Restorations

Aim: This study evaluates the absorbed dose from X-rays on (composite and amalgam) dental fillings and examines its impact on image quality. In addition, it investigates the potential health risks associated with X-ray usage in dental diagnostics. Materials and Methods: Composite and amalgam fillings were subjected to local low dose ionizing radiation in the oral cavity through X-ray imaging. The absorbed dose for each dental restoration material was estimated, and the quality of the resulting X-ray images was assessed. Results: The study further analyzed the relationship between absorbed dose and kilovolt peak (kVp) to determine its influence on image quality. The absorbed dose varied with kVp, ranging from 40 to 70 kVp. The extrapolated absorbed dose values spanned from 0.45 mGy (lowest) to 1.38 mGy (highest), while optical density ranged from 0.13 to 0.33. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of minimizing X-ray exposure in dental diagnostics due to the potential cancer risks associated with elevated ionizing radiation doses to surrounding tissues and organs. The results emphasize that the choice of dental filling material significantly impacts dose absorption and scatter during X-ray imaging. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to carefully select filling materials and optimize imaging parameters to reduce radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic image quality.