Beyond Dose: Architecture as an Overlooked Silent Component of the Occupational Exposome in Dental Radiology Within Industrial Clinical Settings

Dental radiography is a routine part of modern dental care and is usually considered safe because it uses low radiation doses. This belief is mainly based on studies from hospitals and conventional clinics, where dental X-ray rooms are built with verified wall shielding. In real-life practice, however, dental radiology is not always performed in such settings. In many industrial and corporate workplaces, permanent dental clinics are located inside non-hospital buildings with thin, lightweight, or prefabricated walls. In these environments, wall shielding may be absent or not regularly checked. During dental imaging, especially with the increasing use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), scattered radiation may pass beyond the dental room and reach nearby offices or work areas. This means that radiation exposure may affect not only dental staff but also other workers who are not considered radiation workers and are not included in routine monitoring. This narrative review explores occupational radiation exposure from dental radiology in long-term industrial clinical settings with non-standard building design. Special attention is given to indoor scatter radiation, wall construction, and possible effects on the thyroid gland, a radio-sensitive organ. By reviewing available evidence on dental occupational exposure, scatter radiation, thy-roid sensitivity, and current radiation protection guidelines, this paper highlights a possible gap between existing safety assumptions and real working conditions. The findings suggest that building design and wall shielding should receive more attention in radiation protection practices for dental clinics operating in industrial settings, together with appropriate monitoring and safety measures.