What is the maximum permissible dose (MPD) of radiation for dental professionals in a year?

The maximum permissible dose (MPD) of radiation for dental professionals is established to ensure safety and minimize the risk of radiation-related health effects. The correct value for the annual dose limit for radiation exposure to occupational workers, including dental professionals, is 5 Rem (or 50 millisieverts in metric terms). This limit is set based on recommendations from various authoritative bodies, including the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Setting the MPD at this level allows dental professionals to perform their duties without significant risk while accounting for the cumulative exposure over time. It is essential for maintaining a safe work environment, especially in roles that involve regular exposure to ionizing radiation from dental radiography and similar procedures. The standards aim to protect health while enabling necessary medical practices that involve radiation use.

Other choices, such as 1 Rem, 3 Rem, and 7 Rem, either underestimate or overestimate the acceptable exposure limits based on current radiation safety guidelines. Thus, 5 Rem is recognized as the standard for dental professionals working with radiation annually.