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The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) is proud to announce the publication of Report No. 177, Radiation Protection in Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging. The publication overview can be viewed on the NCRP website.

This report provides a practical radiation protection guide for dentists and their staff. It updates NCRP's radiation protection guidance to address the increased use of technologies such as digital imaging, handheld intraoral imaging, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to promote use of dose-reduction methods that are not universally used in day-to-day dental radiology. The report also discusses quality assurance of radiology in dental offices and describes the need for additional training of staff to ensure safe and effective use of these technologies.

NCRP Report No. 177 was prepared by national and international experts from universities, medical centers, government agencies, and private industry. Many dental clinicians may not have easy access to guidance documents, so this report can serve as a complete reference for most dental imaging applications. The Report provides specific guidance for dentists, their clinical associates, and qualified experts conducting radiation protection surveys, performing equipment performance evaluations, and determining facility shielding and layout designs. It is also useful for institutions and organizations providing education and training to dental students, dentists, and associated clinical staff.