Are lead aprons required in a dental facility?
A. Yes. In B.C., a minimum of one approved lead apron is required for each dental practice. The patient must be provided with a shielded apron, for gonad protection, and a thyroid shield, especially during occlusal radiographic examinations of the maxilla. The use of a thyroid shield is especially important in children. The shielded apron and thyroid shield should have a lead equivalence of at least 0.25 mm of lead. In panoramic and cone beam radiography, since the radiation is also coming from the back of the patient, a conventional lead apron is not adequate and dual (front and back) lead aprons should be worn.
