Effective dose comparison between stitched and single FOV in CBCT protocols for complete dental arcade

• The study relies on the comparison of two protocols with similar goals of CBCT: stitched protocols and single protocols.
• The stitched FOV protocol is more specific and it is good option when want imaging only of some dental units.
• In relation the effective dose, single FOV protocols presents advantage over the stitched FOV protocols.
• Know the exposure parameters and effective dose values associated with each image protocol is necessity for request the best CBCT tomographic image.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess and compare protocols with a single field of view and multiple stitched field of view with a similar clinical purpose by means of effective dose value.Materials and methodsMeasurements of absorbed dose were performed with thermoluminescent dosemeters inserted in the position of organs/tissues of a female anthropomorphic phantom and from these values the effective dose was calculated, utilizing weighting factor tissue-ICRP 103 (2007).ResultsThe results obtained in this study for effective dose are within the range of 43.1 µSv and 111.5 µSv for equipment using protocols with single FOV and in the range of 44.5 µSv and 236.2 µSv for equipments that using protocols with stitched field of view.ConclusionsIn terms of the value of effective dose, stitched FOV protocols do not have any advantage over the single field of view protocols. This results suggest the necessity for knowledge of the exposure parameters and effective dose values associated with each image protocol.