Need of radiation protection in dentistry in Pakistan

Dental radiography is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important procedures for proper diagnoses and treatment. The number of examinations has increased remarkably in last 20 years all over the world. This vast growth in the use of dental X-rays has been accompanied by an increasing concern among both the public and health professionals on the hazards of diagnostic radiography in developed countries and strenuous efforts have been and are being, made to both quantity and limit these risks. The first formal recommendations for persons working with sources of radiation in the world were those developed by the British X-ray and Radiation Committee in 1921. After various reforms the rules and Regulations for the radiation protection has changed over the years. Various recommendations were given by the working party which are included in this publication. In Pakistan there is no system of ionising protection. To achieve the desired level of radiation protection in Pakistan it is essential that in every dental school, the content of the undergraduate course should ensure that students receives instructions, practical experience in taking, processing and interpretation of both intro-and extra-oral radiographs. Other suggestions are also been made