Pediatric Bitewing Exposure to Organs of the Head and Neck Through the Use of Juvenile Anthropomorphic Phantoms

Background: A literature review revealed that there is a lack of valid data on bitewing exposure dosimetry to the head and neck organs of pediatric patients. Here we are determining the actual dose to two anthropomorphic juvenile (5 yr old and 10 yr old) phantoms. Objective: To yield dosimetric measurements on the X-ray exposures to the organs of the head and neck from bitewing radiographs taken of two juvenile CIRS phantoms using round and rectangular collimation for both film and digital radiography. Methods and Materials: Two anthropomorphic CIRS juvenile phantoms (5yr old and 10 yr old) were exposed for bitewing radiographs using a Gendex 765 x-ray machine at the manufacturers pre-set film and digital pediatric settings for both rectangular and round collimation. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dosimeters were placed in 21 head and neck pre-manufactured slot