Many of you have been hearing about or reading about a dental x-ray report that came out last week. Whereas our office always has our patients interest at heart which is why we invest in the best technology for our patients. In this case, digital x-rays which have minimal radiation.
The report, “Dental Xrays and Risk of Meningioma” published in the Journal Cancer dtd 10 April 2012.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.26625/pdf). really seems to be is another in a series of sensationalist, inflammatory articles on therapeutic radiation and in this case, dental radiation. It grabs great headlines but totally lacking in true science!
Rather than elaborate on the context of the report which has many inaccuracies and poor scientific validation, I think there will be many reports and experts that will repudiate the inaccurcies cited. In fact neither Dr. Claus or her colleagues have any dental or radiation physics education.
A few observations:
For comparison, the radiation exposure from an average single film-basedbitewing is approximately 5 uSv, less than the 1 day 8 uSv natural radiation exposure we all receive just being on the planet Earth. How can several bitewings even in a one year or 40 year period result in a meningioma? Astandard Medical CT scan of the mandible is 1400 uSvʼs – the equivalent of 5 months natural radiation exposure! It would take 280 bitewings to equal the patient radiation of just 1 Medical CT scan and who gets just one CT? Why is this study not going after Medical CT s?
The important thing is that any xrays only be taken as needed and with digital films the exposure is way less than conventional. Our office has had digital for over 6 years and will continue to monitor any improvements that benefits our patients.
If you have any questions about TMJ houston or Houston Cosmetic Dentistry please please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF 713-668-2289
