Average annual occupational radiation exposure among dental staff: a 3-years retrospective observational study

Diagnostic radiography is indispensable in modern dentistry for its diagnostic and therapeutic value, yet it presents potential health risks to healthcare providers from long-term occupational radiation exposure. This retrospective study aimed to quantify the average annual occupational radiation doses received by dental staff members at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH) from 2022 to 2024, evaluate exposure variations across clinical specialties, and assess personnel compliance regarding Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) badge utilization. The study cohort comprised all active dental professionals (N = 277) enrolled in the institutional radiation safety program. Longitudinal dosimetry data were extracted from centralized monitoring records. Deep personal dose equivalents Hp(10) and shallow personal dose equivalents Hp(0.07) were monitored quarterly and annually using lithium fluoride detector crystals (LiF: Mg, Ti). Statistical tracking utilized a repeated-measures design via IBM SPSS Statistics. Over the three-year tracking period, the median annual cumulative Hp(10) dose rose from 0.00 mSv (Q1, Q3: 0.00, 0.00) in 2022 to 0.10 mSv (Q1, Q3: 0.00, 0.11) in 2023, reaching 0.34 mSv (Q1, Q3: 0.16, 0.45) in 2024. Concurrently, median annual Hp(0.07) doses shifted from 0.00 mSv (2022) to 0.10 mSv (2023) and 0.29 mSv (2024). Extremity radiation exposure remained at an absolute baseline of 0.00 mSv across all years. Multi-variable analysis revealed no statistically significant variations in dose metrics among clinical specialties (p > 0.05). All observed occupational metrics remained profoundly beneath the annual dose thresholds recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Occupational radiation exposure at KFAFH is exceptionally low and structurally well-controlled. The statistically significant temporal increase in recorded doses from 2022 to 2024 is indicative of enhanced behavioral compliance in consistent TLD badge utilization.