ALARP Principle — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: C — Keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable while meeting the diagnostic purpose
**A is correct.** ALARP means **as low as reasonably practicable**. For a dental radiograph, radiation dose should be minimised while retaining sufficient image quality to fulfil the intended diagnostic purpose. This is the UK optimisation requirement under IR(ME)R and is reflected in SDCEP dental radiation-protection guidance. A diagnostic exposure is therefore not reduced indiscriminately if doing so would make the image inadequate. **B** is wrong because diagnostic reference levels guide typical practice; they are not fixed individual-patient dose limits. **C** confuses optimisation with justification: a radiograph may be justified even when clinical examination is possible. **D** is only one possible technical measure and is not the definition of ALARP. **E** is contrary to ALARP because avoidable repeat exposures increase dose.
Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), Practice Support Manual, “Optimisation of dose”, current webpage: https://www.psm.sdcep.org.uk/topics/radiation-protection/controlling-exposure-and-dose/optimisation-of-dose/