Professional Assessment of Radiation Protection Compliance Among Dental Radiographers in Private Dental Practices in Ibadan

Dental radiography is performed across large numbers of private dental practices in Nigerian cities, yet radiation protection compliance in these settings operates outside the regular oversight provided to hospital-based radiology departments, creating potential occupational and patient radiation safety risks. In Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria, the radiation protection compliance status of dental radiographers in private practices warrants professional assessment. This study professionally assesses radiation protection compliance among dental radiographers at private dental practices in Ibadan. A structured compliance audit is conducted at 25 purposively selected private dental practices, evaluating X-ray unit room design adequacy, wall shielding documentation, operator position during exposure, personal dosimeter provision, patient collimation device use, and equipment registration with NNRA. Structured interviews with 60 dental radiographers provide knowledge and compliance context data. An overall radiation protection compliance score is computed per practice. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests are computed in SPSS. Literature from South West Nigerian private dental settings identifies unshielded operating positions, unregistered X-ray equipment, and absent personal dosimeters as the most prevalent compliance violations. The NCRP Report No. 145 and Nigerian atomic energy regulations for dental radiation provide the compliance standards. Findings are expected to reveal compliance rates below acceptable thresholds in the majority of assessed private dental practices. Recommendations address a targeted NNRA registration and inspection drive for Ibadan private dental practices, dental radiographer radiation safety continuing education, and a minimum dental practice radiation protection standard issued by the NRBN. Keywords: radiation protection compliance, dental radiography, private dental practices, Ibadan, South West Nigeria.