Question

Considering the hazards exposed in dental radiography and according to OSHA regulations, dental offices are required to have pictograms present on items where health hazards are a consideration. Which numbered pictogram images would apply to dental radiography? Describe specifically how these images would apply to the dental radiographers daily activities.

Answer 1

The health hazard pictogram is the one which is used for dental radiography. With the health hazard pictogram, it indicates that the use of the dental radiography indicates different factors which includes carcinogen, mutagenicity, toxicity of the organs, aspiration toxicity, indicates even toxicity to the reproductive organs and sensitivity to the respiration. There are radiations which are emitted from the dental radiography machine and hence this is indicative of health hazard.

There are many aspects of the pictogram that is applied to the daily activities of the dental radiographer and hence if enough protection is not taken, it can cause serious health hazards.

· Carcinogen – There are many carcinogenic properties which are emitted by the radiographing machine and it impacts the daily activities due to the release of the carcinogen. This has the tendency to cause cancer.

· Reproductive toxicity – It impacts with the daily activities because it can impact the fertility of the person who is exposed to it or in case of pregnant woman it can impact the fertility of the unborn child.

· Toxicity of target organ – It tends to cause damage to the organs if the radiation from the radiographer is directly exposed and reaches the target organ.

· Respiratory sensitizer – Due to the emission of the radiation, it tends to cause sensitivity to the respiration and impact the respiratory organs.

· Mutagenicity – The radiations can impact the dental professional because with direct radiation, it tends to cause mutations and hence might cause genetic defects.

· Aspiration toxicity – The accidental swallowing of the radiation can be fatal and it tends to impact the airways and might cause problems.