X-ray Radiation dangers

[Noam]

I've started orthodontic treatment 13 months ago. Since then, I had 2 lateral cephalometric x-rays (actually 3, since one didn't came out right and had to do it again) and one panormaic x-ray.

I suppose to have surgery on June, and I believe that I'll have to go through at least 1 more lateral cephalometric x-ray near surgery date, and after surgery who knows how many...

I wonder how much radiation I'm getting here, and how dangerous it is ?

[chicago29]

I think about this as well, and I'm conscious to ask that all x-rays are medically necessary. That being said, there's no way around it though as several x-rays need to be taken immediately prior to surgery, and you'll have a few of them afterwards. It just goes with the territory.

The good news is that ceph and panoramic xrays are pretty low on the radiation scale. They are nothing like a CT Scan or anything like that. In fact, I recall reading that a modern panoramic xray is about as much radiation as you'd get from about 10 days of background radiation (i.e., the radiation you are exposed to simply by living).

Just doing a cursory Google search found that a modern panoramic averages 8 to 10 microSV. For comparison, a normal chest x-ray is 30 microSV. CT Scans can get into the hundreds.

So, I think you should always ensure that the x-rays are medically necessary, but generally speaking these are safe.

-Chicago29

[Noam]

Thanks chicago29.

I did some search too and found the following:

Effective doses are:

• intraoral dental X ray imaging procedure 1–8 μSv;
• panoramic examinations 4-30 μSv;
• cephalometric examinations 2-3 μSv,
• CBCT procedures 34-652 μSv,(for small dento-alveolar volumes) and 30-1079 μSv, (for large “cranio-facial” volumes).

Thus the doses from intraoral and cephalometric dental radiological procedures are lower, usually less than one day of natural background radiation. Doses for panoramic procedures are more variable, but even at the high end of the range are equivalent to a few days of natural background radiation which is similar to that of a chest radiograph

Taken from:
http://rpop.iaea.org/RPOP/RPoP/Content/ ... n-dose.htm

[monarch]

I know that the surgeons etc. will not perform the surgery without the x-rays. So, IMHO, it is worth the slight risk to have the necessary work done. I have heard that you can offer yourself some slight protection against the radiation by taking Vitamin C, but I don't know if that is a myth or if there is some truth in it. Nevertheless, I give it to my family whenever we must undergo any x-rays.

[chipmunkcheeks]

I dont think that you should worry only because between 2 surgeries, braces for 2+ years, etc. I have had at least 15 xrays of my face...seriously, and that is probably the lowest I would guess. It could be more...that being said...I probably going to glow before you. Though, I think it was worth it.

[Kirish]

A paper was published a week ago claiming the risk of thyroid cancer can go up by 5 fold after 5-9 dental x-rays:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... -risk.html

[descantus]

Whilst Kirish is right to remind us all that it's always good idea to always ask if your xrays are absolutely necessary, I wouldn't worry about these types of reports that are usually taken out of context and rarely based on bona fide peer reviewed journals, without any critical analysis at all.

Also, the link is to the DAILY MAIL! A paper famous for its obsessive weekly reports of things that give you cancer (it's previousy published 'scientific' evidence that you can get cancer from chewing gum, pringles, facebook, having children, not having children, bras, working, and most famously, bread!)

So if anyone's worried about Xrays, here's a list that proves they're the least of your worries

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=269512464297

[bb]

'scientific' evidence that you can get cancer from chewing gum, pringles, facebook, having children, not having children, bras, working, and most famously, bread!

I'm doomed! Pass the pringles please!

[MetalMedic]

You get exposed to more background radiation throughout your lifetime than you ever will by being exposed to x-rays in a lifetime from diagnostic procedures. You'll be fine. Unless you work in a nuclear power plant or work in a radiology department in a hospital, you're fine. Don't worry about it.