Monte Carlo calculation and experimental verification of the photon energy response of tooth enamel in a head-sized plexiglas phantom

The use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tooth dosimetry for calculation of organ doses requires conversion of the measured absorbed dose in enamel. Before deriving conversion factors from simulation calculations with a realistic anthropomorphic human phantom, in the current study a simplified phantom was chosen to compare EPR measurement and Monte Carlo calculation. The dose response of tooth enamel of molars at various positions inside a cylindrical Plexiglas phantom of head-size was calculated by Monte Carlo modelling in parallel photon beams of X rays of 63 keV equivalent energy and 60Co gamma rays (1.25 Mev). For X ray exposure, preliminary results of EPR dosimetry with tooth enamel samples prepared from molars irradiated in the phantom were in agreement with calculation. The mean value of the ratio of the measured to the calculated dose was 0.93±0.08. (author)