OSL and TL retrospective dosimetry with a fluorapatite glass-ceramic used for dental restorations

• Published in: Radiation measurements Vol. 58; pp. 138 - 144
• Main Authors: Ekendahl, Daniela, Judas, Libor, Sukupova, Lucie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidental dosimetry; Assessments; Dental ceramic; Dental materials; Dosimeters; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fading; Fluorapatite; Geochronology; Glass ceramics; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; OSL; Photons; Restoration; Retrospective dosimetry; TL; Dental ceramic; OSL; Retrospective dosimetry; Accidental dosimetry; reproductibility; fluorapatite; exhibits; irradiation; apatite; luminescence; materials; optimization; radiation; phosphates; thermoluminescence; energy
• ISSN: 1350-4487; 1879-0925
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2013.01.001

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL) properties of a fluorapatite glass-ceramic have been investigated, with a view to developing a dose assessment technique for medical triage following unplanned exposures of individuals to ionizing radiation. The ceramic is an innovative material used in dental prostheses and restorations. It is strongly sensitive to radiation and the intensity of both the OSL and TL signals are proportional to the absorbed radiation dose. We focused on the optimization of the measuring procedure and investigated characteristics such as reproducibility, fading, minimum detectable dose (MDD), dose response and photon energy response of TL and OSL signals. The dental ceramic exhibited very good reproducibility (<5% at 2σ level) when measured and a linear dose response for a wide range of doses (50 mGy–20 Gy). The MDD values for the samples investigated were ∼5 mGy. The material is not tissue equivalent and the OSL and TL signals are strongly dependent on incident photon energy. Both the luminescence signals exhibited significant fading during the first few hours after irradiation. Its rate was dependent on the parameters of measurement. The results indicate that the material can be used for the purposes of accident dosimetry, however, the fading and photon energy response have to be properly corrected for a reliable dose assessment. ► A dental ceramic was considered as a retrospective and accident dosimeter. ► Dosimetry application was investigated using OSL and TL. ► TL and OSL signals are proportional to absorbed radiation dose. ► Accuracy is dependent on correction of fading and photon energy response.