Impactos da exposição à radiação em exames odontológicos

Abstract

Introduction: Since the discovery of X-rays in 1895, it has been recognized that high doses of radiation can cause harmful effects; however, the impacts of low doses, such as those used in dental radiology, are still debated. Objective: To analyze the impacts of radiation exposure in dental examinations, considering its biological effects, dose levels, radiological protection measures, and the importance of using techniques and protocols that minimize health risks. Methodology: An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed Central, CAPES, and SciELO databases. The search terms used were “Radiology”, “Radiation”, “Imaging”, “Dentistry”, “Exposure”, “Protection”, and “Patient”, both separately and combined using the Boolean operator AND. Results and Discussion: 117,206 published articles were found, of which 60 articles were selected through title and abstract for integrative reading, and after analysis, 8 articles were considered relevant to the study. Conclusion: The results reveal divergence regarding the genotoxic impact of radiation, but all indicate increased cytotoxicity, suggesting that exposure, although potentially harmful in the short term, tends to be reversible over time. Despite evidence of initial cellular damage caused by radiation, further studies on long-term effects are needed to confirm the carcinogenic potential of low-intensity radiation in cumulative exposures.