Which of the following is a common method for reducing patient radiation exposure during dental radiography?

Using digital sensors and reducing exposure time are both effective methods for minimizing patient radiation exposure in dental radiography.

Digital sensors are more sensitive to radiation compared to traditional film, allowing for high-quality images to be obtained with a significantly lower dose of radiation. This increased sensitivity means that the amount of radiation required to produce a diagnostic image is reduced, which is a direct benefit to patient safety.

Reducing exposure time is another crucial way to limit radiation exposure. The shorter the time the patient is exposed to the radiation, the less overall radiation they receive. Techniques such as optimizing exposure settings or adopting faster imaging technologies can achieve this reduction effectively without sacrificing image quality.

While increasing kVp can improve image contrast and penetration, it may not always result in a lower overall patient exposure, and can sometimes lead to higher radiation doses if not properly managed. Thus, focusing on the combination of using digital sensors and reducing exposure time presents a more robust strategy for minimizing patient radiation exposure in dental practices.