Hi,

On Thursday I had a dentist appointment with a new dentist. So of
course
they wanted to take a full mouth X-Ray. Thing is, after they did this
and moved on to the "bite-wings" X-Rays, they put one of those lead
vests on me; Now I realize they did not put the vest on me
for the other full mouth X-Ray (the one where you sit in a box and the
device moves around your head).

This is probably fairly normal, and probably happens all the time, but
I'm just a bit worried. Do I have anything to be worried about having
been exposed to an X-Ray for 15-30 seconds?

I've tried to read up on the subject, and even if it isn't horribly
dangerous at this level, I'm still dissapointed. Apparently they are
only supposed to take X-Rays only when necessary, and they failed to
get the old X-Ray from my previous dentist (even though they asked for
his contact information when I made the appointment, and informed me
they would get all of my records). After they already took the X-Rays,
the receptionist came in and said my other Doctor was sending over my
records, including a full-mouth X-Ray from 2004. So this X-Ray
shouldn't have been taken anyway, aside from the lead protection issue.

Thanks,
Nick

The thing that goes around your head can put out a lot of x-rays, mor
then taking bitewings. I am a computer guy, so when the pano or x-ra
sensors stop working I get to fix it. I have talked to guys who g
around the country installing pano's, (the box that circles around th
head). I noticed when they were doing demo's and etc, that they staye
far away from the pano. I asked them why and they said x-rays can b
dangerous, and since they are always around pano's shooting x-rays
they dont like the risk or probability. Just to be safe. I woul
personally wear a lead apron when taking a pano, and bitewings

One night, I was tuning an x-ray sensor, and I took way too many x-ray
of myself. I quit when my mouth started to feel weird. I noticed othe
people can feel this weird feeling when taking a pano. They dont lik
to do it more then once or twice

This is why I just want to play it safe, because I am not an expert o
x-rays, but the guys who do seem to know more about x-rays seem to pla
it safe also

Makes sense to me, at a lot of offices I work for the hygeinists sta
clear when shooting the x-ray. They will stand behind a wall usually.
now do the same thing, unless its me who is getting the x-ray

Maybe I am just paranoid

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nickw wrote:

> Hi,
>
> On Thursday I had a dentist appointment with a new dentist. So of
> course
> they wanted to take a full mouth X-Ray. Thing is, after they did this
> and moved on to the "bite-wings" X-Rays, they put one of those lead
> vests on me; Now I realize they did not put the vest on me
> for the other full mouth X-Ray (the one where you sit in a box and the
> device moves around your head).
>
> This is probably fairly normal, and probably happens all the time, but
> I'm just a bit worried. Do I have anything to be worried about having
> been exposed to an X-Ray for 15-30 seconds?
>
> I've tried to read up on the subject, and even if it isn't horribly
> dangerous at this level, I'm still dissapointed. Apparently they are
> only supposed to take X-Rays only when necessary, and they failed to
> get the old X-Ray from my previous dentist (even though they asked for
> his contact information when I made the appointment, and informed me
> they would get all of my records). After they already took the X-Rays,
> the receptionist came in and said my other Doctor was sending over my
> records, including a full-mouth X-Ray from 2004. So this X-Ray
> shouldn't have been taken anyway, aside from the lead protection issue.
>
> Thanks,
> Nick
>

You should have been given a lead apron. However, the x-ray dose of a
panorex is generally less than a full series of x-rays. You shouldn't
worry. However, if I were that dentist I'd worry if an inspector finds out.
Don't be shy about asking for the apron. It was probably an
oversight--one that shouldn't be made.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

I certianly won't be shy about asking for the apron in the future, but
in this case I was just un-informed and not thinking about what the
tech should have been doing.

Do you think I should report this incident? At least to the dentist
the tech was working for? I certainly wouldn't want this to be a
regular practice at the office...

Thanks for the great information!

"Administrator" <> wrote in message
news:...

>
>
> One night, I was tuning an x-ray sensor, and I took way too many x-rays
> of myself. I quit when my mouth started to feel weird.

That is crazy! Aren't you supposed to use some type of a dummy for that?
(Not a flame, I also did silly things with radiation when I was young. Most
poeple to not realy understand their lack of immortality until their 30's)

>
> Makes sense to me, at a lot of offices I work for the hygeinists stay
> clear when shooting the x-ray. They will stand behind a wall usually. I
> now do the same thing, unless its me who is getting the x-ray.

That makes sense because the hygienists are doing this all day/ every work
day. The patient usually only gets one or two sets of x-rays a year. Big
difference.

I never was offered a lead apron until I started with my present dentist,
two partners who run a very nice shop.

Vaughn

nickw wrote:

> I certianly won't be shy about asking for the apron in the future, but
> in this case I was just un-informed and not thinking about what the
> tech should have been doing.
>
> Do you think I should report this incident? At least to the dentist
> the tech was working for? I certainly wouldn't want this to be a
> regular practice at the office...
>
> Thanks for the great information!
>

Yes--to the dentist. I wouldn't report to the state unless youi find
out the error hasn't been corrected. You'll be doing the other patients
(and the dentist) a big favor.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Big news guys., There are studies suggesting that with digital films th
lead apron (or the other one) actually cause MORE radiation throug
scatter. If anyone is interested, I will dig up the paper.

I still recommend the apron, less radiation or more radiation, becaus
of patient perception.

Joel M. Eichen DD

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Joel344 wrote:

> Big news guys., There are studies suggesting that with digital films the
> lead apron (or the other one) actually cause MORE radiation through
> scatter. If anyone is interested, I will dig up the paper.
>
> I still recommend the apron, less radiation or more radiation, because
> of patient perception.
>
> Joel M. Eichen DDS
>
>

How can something that blocks 100% of x-rays cause scatter?

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Its the same reason why jewelry, tongue piercing barbells, and the like
scatter radiation. Even a silver filling causes scatter. Yes it blocks
the x-ray from reaching the film, but the x-ray is partially scattered
(secondary radiation) through collision with the outer orbital electron
shells.


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Joel344
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Here is a pointer ......


Kawabe R, Nakada M, Suzuki S, Fujifuchi S, Sagami T, Nakada M, Wajima
T, Togashi A, Kudo Y, Kashida Y. Related Articles, Links
[Discussion "Is it necessary to attach a protective apron to the
patient in the X-ray diagnosis?"]
Nippon Hoshasen Gijutsu Gakkai Zasshi. 2004 Dec;60(12):1630-43.
Japanese. No abstract available.
PMID: 15614209 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


6: Kimura Y, Kobayashi T, Sasanuma K, Tsukamoto A, Kato H. Related
Articles, Links
[Round table discussion: is it necessary to attach a protective apron
to the patient in the X-ray diagnosis?]
Nippon Hoshasen Gijutsu Gakkai Zasshi. 2004 Dec;60(12):1620-9.
Japanese. No abstract available.
PMID: 15614208 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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