Answer to Question #8789 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Radiation workers/medical technicians
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
I am a dentist working in a dental clinic in India. I take nearly 5 to 10 dental x rays every day and hold the film in the patient's mouth while I'm taking the x ray. I am hoping to conceive in the near future. How safe for my child is my professional exposure to x rays? Can I continue with the job after conceiving?
A
The usual procedure for taking dental x rays is to have the operator stand behind a barrier wall or at least stand six to eight feet from the patient when actuating the x-ray machine. A bitewing x-ray film is used. The technician or dentist places the dental x-ray film in front of the tooth or teeth to be x rayed. The patient clamps down on the bitewing and the operator steps out of the room or steps back six to eight feet and clicks the shutter of the x-ray machine. In this manner, the operator is exposed to a minimum amount of scatter radiation and the embryo, for practical purposes, will not be exposed at all. When you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you could wear a lead apron, but it really would not be necessary. In modern dental practice, I do not believe that anyone should be routinely holding the film in a patient's mouth several times a day.
Robert Brent MD, PhD
Robert Brent MD, PhD
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