Introduction:

Handheld dental X-ray equipment (HDXE) are portable and wireless devices whose use has become massive. No recent reviews of literature that comprehensively analyze HDXE were found. The aim of the present article was to analyze the current information available on components, technical features, way of use and recommendations on radiological protection of HDXE.

Materials and methods:

A review of published literature on HDXE in the last decade was made in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science relating the free term “handheld dental X-ray” and its variants through the Boolean term OR.

Review:

HDXE differ from wall-mounted X-ray equipment in that they have a rechargeable battery and external backscatter shielding. Furthermore, milliamperage is lower in HDXE and because of this, exposure times are longer. The way to use HDXE to reduce risk of exposure to ionizing radiation to the operator is to hold it at a forearm distance of the body, keeping the central beam emission parallel to the floor. There are radiological protection recommendations for the use of HDXE that seek to protect the patient, operator and general population from the potential risks of ionizing radiation.

Conclusions:

The wide variety of HDXE and its different form of use implies a potential greater risk of exposure to radiation to the operator. HDXE should not be considered as a replacement for wall-mounted equipment and their use should be restricted to situations where wall-mounted equipment is impossible to use.

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