During which procedure is the risk of patient exposure to radiation highest?

Intraoral radiography is associated with the highest risk of patient exposure to radiation primarily due to the direct method used in capturing images. This procedure involves placing the radiographic film or sensor inside the patient’s mouth, which means that the radiation is directed closely to the tissues of the oral cavity. Consequently, this leads to a higher dose of radiation being absorbed by the patient in comparison to other types of imaging procedures.

During intraoral radiography, particularly with techniques like periapical or bitewing radiographs, the area being irradiated is compact and includes critical structures such as teeth and surrounding tissues, which are sensitive to radiation exposure. Although strict safety protocols and dose management techniques are applied to minimize exposure, the proximity of the radiation source to the patient means that intraoral radiography inherently comes with a higher risk of dose-related effects.

In contrast, routine examinations and diagnostic imaging can involve broader areas of scanning with varying degrees of radiation dose, while extraoral radiography typically places the radiation source at a greater distance from the patient. Therefore, while all these procedures involve some level of risk, the direct, localized exposure from intraoral radiography stands out as having the highest potential for radiation exposure.