Compliance of Michigan dentists with radiographic safety recommendations.

We surveyed a random sample of 398 Michigan dentists in private practice to determine their compliance with the American Dental Association Council's recommendations for radiographic equipment and techniques. The response rate was 67% of the questionnaires delivered successfully. The majority of dentists use only D-speed film (73%) and round collimation of the x-ray beam (90%). Only 5% have an x-ray machine equipped with a rectangular collimator and 18% have at least one machine with a pointed cone. Leaded apron use is almost universal, but only 49% of the dentists use cervical collars in addition to the apron. The majority of dentists surveyed do not comply with the American Dental Association Council's recommendations on film speed, collimation, and use of leaded cervical collar. Using effective dose equivalents determined by Gibbs et al. for a variety of radiographic techniques, we estimate that an eight-fold reduction in radiation dose could be achieved without eliminating a single radiograph if all dentists used E-speed film and collimation of the beam to the size of the film.