Innovative Biomedical Engineering  (IBE)  has implemented a new testing protocol to establish risk analysis for all Dental X-Ray machines and Dental Radiographic procedures in British Columbia.

In order to address the most common question asked of us by dental professionals:  “What is the risk to our patients associated with taking dental X-Rays?” our engineering team has been quietly working behind the scenes to answer this question in a quantitative way.

This has been a collaborate effort.  As leaders, we worked with software development people in B.C., equipment manufacturers in Sweden, the Radiation Protection Division of the B.C. Center for Disease Control, Work Safe B.C., the British Columbia Dental Association, the Canadian Dental Association and Health Canada to bring this project to fruition.

For the first time ever, dental professionals in British Columbia and elsewhere will have access to meaningful, accurate, quantified and reproducible radiation data from their X-ray machines. This will allow dentists the opportunity to prescribe radiographic examinations with vastly improved knowledge of the risks and benefits associated with their work.

With the introduction of Digital Imaging Systems, Cone Beam Computed Tomography, High Frequency Direct Current X-ray beams, and Ultra-Sensitive X-Ray Film into the realm of Dental Radiography, dentists now need a way of easily determining which battery of X-ray tests best serves their patients with the least amount of risk.

The new testing protocols accurately relate the relative risk associated with the many types of dental X-Ray examinations.

At IBE, we have brought together a multitude of advanced technologies that allow us to quickly and accurately measure the performance of X-Ray systems that meets with the requirements of developing International Standards.

Over the next few years, every Dental X-Ray machine operating in British Columbia will be surveyed to establish a database of relative risk analysis in Dental Radiography.  It is intended that the preliminary findings of this program will be presented at the 2013 or 2014 Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver.