Abstract

Patients have different concerns regarding dental X-rays, such as the risk of radiation in adults, children, and particularly pregnant women. Furthermore, anxiety, discomfort, and the gagging reflex while having radiographs taken are significant aspects of dental treatment. This study aimed to assess the concerns of patients in oral radiology clinics at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study design used a supervised questionnaire to interview oral radiology clinic patients. The majority of the patients (85%) showed no concerns at all. Only 10% of the respondents had an overall concern about X-rays, regardless of the source. Ranking those concerns from the most to the least common concerns, the results were that repetition of radiographs in one session was the most frequently cited concern, followed by the duration of the session, infection control, and radiograph diagnosis, with all four being rated by between 22% and 26% of the respondents. The study concluded that any correlation of age, gender, or level of education with the current level of concern was relatively weak.

Keywords: Oral Radiology; Concerns; Assessment; Fear; Dental Radiology; Radiography

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