Occupational Radiation Exposure in Dental Clinics Operating Within Industrial Facilities Constructed with Lightweight or Artificial Walls: Implications for Thyroid Health and Radiation Safety “Challenging the Assumption of Safety in Low-Dose Dental Radiology”

Dental radiography is an essential component of modern dental practice, and its use has increased with the wider availability of panoramic imaging and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Dental radiographic equipment is commonly described by manufacturers as emitting relatively low radiation doses, which has contributed to a widespread perception of safety in routine dental practice. Although occupational radiation exposure in dentistry is generally considered low, most published studies and radiation protection guidelines are based on dental clinics located in conventional healthcare buildings with appropriate structural shielding. In contrast, many industrial organizations, such as those in the petroleum, energy, and mining sectors, operate permanent medical and dental clinics within facilities constructed using lightweight or artificial wall materials, where radiation protection measures may be limited or inconsistently applied. This narrative review examines occupational radiation exposure in dental clinics operating within industrial facilities characterized by non-standard architectural designs, with particular attention to potential effects on thyroid health. The thyroid gland is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation, and long-term low-dose exposure, especially in confined spaces with inadequate shielding, may represent an underestimated occupational risk. Available evidence on occupational radiation doses in dental practice, scatter radiation associated with CBCT, biological mechanisms of thyroid radiosensitivity, and current radiation protection recommendations is reviewed and discussed. By addressing an under-recognized occupational setting, this review highlights important gaps in radiation safety related to architectural design, regulatory oversight, and dose monitoring in industrial dental clinics. The findings support the need for improved assessment of structural shielding, routine use of personal dosimetry, and targeted radiation safety training to better protect dental healthcare workers and other personnel working in proximity to dental imaging areas in these environments.