The establishment of a diagnostic reference level for intra-oral dental radiography in Co. Wicklow.

The use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is part of the optimisation process of radiation protection, in that it identifies practices that are in need of corrective action, resulting in dose reduction. Their use is provided for in Irish and European legislation. In this project, measurements were carried out at 42 of the 46 licensed intra-oral xray machines in Co. Wicklow using an Unfors Mult-0-Meter. The third quartile patient entrance dose for a maxillary molar was calculated at 2.31 mGy, and all the measurements were below the European DRL of 4 mGy. The effect of digital radiography was analysed. There is always scope for the optimisation of patient dose. To facilitate this, a DRL of 2.5 mGy (patient entrance dose) is suggested for Ireland.