topic Re: How many Xrays? in Wellness

How many Xrays?

qualitygal — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:17:10 GMT

I got to thinking, since I'll be seeing the dentist shortly, between the yearly checkups with them and the regular doctor, the dentist, the back doctor, how many Xrays are safe for a person?

The examiners stand behind the lead safe areas but how about the patients? I've never asked about this before. Not even sure where I'd find it in Google. Maybe it's a silly question, not sure.

Re: How many Xrays?

colliegirls — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:20:34 GMT

Most people and certainly the Dr and employees will tell you they are safe, blah, blah, blah. No one can know for sure, I use my own judgement. I avoid any x ray that isn't necessary.

Re: How many Xrays?

millieshops — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:29:11 GMT

I agree that the fewer x-rays the better, but I certainly don't feel unsafe because my dental hygenist stands back when she does my X-rays. After all, I do bite wings every few years and full mouth every 5 to 7. The tech might take that many X-rays in one day!

I need to choose a new dentist near my Florida condo, and I'll be looking for one who has digital equipment. My hygenist here on LI where they haven't invested yet in digital suggested I try that for my next full-mouth series and have the dentist fax a copy north, thus eliminating another full-mouth set of X-rays. (She gave me a copy of her bit-wings so I don't have to repeat those with the new dentist.

That takes care of the mouth - for the rest of the body ---X-raysonly as needed when a problem arises.

Re: How many Xrays?

151949 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:30:46 GMT

Your dentist is supposed to cover you with a lead apron.

As an ICU nurse we had to take many many many patiernts to various radiologic tests and we wore a badge to measure our exposure - mine never was over the safe limit and I'm positive I had a lot more exposure than you.

Re: How many Xrays?

DiAnne — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:39:47 GMT

You don't need to worry about dental x-rays but when you get into CT's there is much more radiation involved. I would not have any more of those than is absolutely necessary.

My Favorite Breed is Adopted

Re: How many Xrays?

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:42:13 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
I got to thinking, since I'll be seeing the dentist shortly, between the yearly checkups with them and the regular doctor, the dentist, the back doctor, how many Xrays are safe for a person?

The examiners stand behind the lead safe areas but how about the patients? I've never asked about this before. Not even sure where I'd find it in Google. Maybe it's a silly question, not sure.

The X-Ray tech stands behind a shield because that tech is doing X-rays all day, 5 days a week. That's his or her job.

I get my teeth x-rayed once a year and maybe go in for an occasional chest x-ray once or twice every other year. That's absolutely nothing compared to an x-ray tech.

I'm not worried.

Re: How many Xrays?

Yardlie — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:44:24 GMT

@qualitygal ... I am a retired dental hygienist (and taught radiology in dental hygiene programs). Most dentists these days (and most hospitals) have digital radiography...which greatly reduces your amount of exposure. Still, insist that the dentist use the lead apron and even a lead thyroid collar, which is often attached to the apron. If you have not have any cavities in a couple years, you should request to go two years between bitewing x-rays.

Here is a little bit of an article written by a dentist (Thomas P. Connelly, D.D.S.).

The exposure is minimal compared to other types of X-rays, and even daily living

According to the American Dental Association (1), the radiation you receive is scant. Using a millisievert (mSv) scale to measure doses, you could expect 0.038 from Bitewing X-rays, and 0.150 from a full mouth X-ray. Of course, those numbers are practically meaningless unless you compare them to other types of X-rays:

Lower Gastrointestinal Tract - 4.060
Chest x-ray - .080
Radiation from space in Denver Co. - 0.510 (per year)
Avg. natural radiation in the US (per year) - 3.00

So essentially, you get about three and a half times the radiation from space (if you live in Denver) than you do from a full mouth X-ray.

Re: How many Xrays?

wvumountiefan — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:52:05 GMT

I don't do dental X-rays anymore. I'm a nurse and IMO I think it's just a way to charge more at my appt. If something is wrong I can make an appt. and then if X-rays are necessary, then I'll talk to the dentist then about it. I just think yearly dental X-rays are silly for me to have.

Re: How many Xrays?

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:54:37 GMT

I refused a huge set of dental x-rays this year which lead to me having to pay $750.00 out of pocket that would have been covered by dental insurance had I had them.

But between all the tests I had to have done right before and after x-mas because of an illness, plus my yearly mammogram, there was no way I was having 28 x-rays of my teeth done. And no, that's not a typo. 28!!!!!! I will never have that many done, regardless.

Re: How many Xrays?

SeaMaiden — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 17:18:14 GMT

For years I was anti Xray.....then I had four joint replacements, problems with my neck and upper back, root canals.....and I gave up. I am probably glowing with radiation. My philosophy is no amount of XRays is good for you. But life happens....and you have to do what you have to do.

Re: How many Xrays?

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:55:36 GMT

Always, always ask them to cover your thyroid before you get dental x-rays!

Re: How many Xrays?

Reba055 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 23:36:42 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
You don't need to worry about dental x-rays but when you get into CT's there is much more radiation involved. I would not have any more of those than is absolutely necessary.

My Favorite Breed is Adopted

@DiAnne You are so right. I had to postpone a few tests and get one changed from a CT to a MRI because I was having so many CT's. I don't care what they say, CT scans are overused and pick up every tiny thing there is. Might be good in cases, but can also send you down the path of more unnecessary tests. And they are alot of radiation.

Re: How many Xrays?

docsgirl — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 02:59:13 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
You don't need to worry about dental x-rays but when you get into CT's there is much more radiation involved. I would not have any more of those than is absolutely necessary.

My Favorite Breed is Adopted

DiAnne,

My favorite breed is adopted also. Love my shelter kitty even though he's naughty at times. I always ask him who rescued whom. He such a love.

You are very right about the CT's. I have a mass in my lung (non-malignant). When it was discovered on a routine chest x-ray, I was put through every test known to man. I had a PET scan which, thankfully, did not light up. Then, I had a CAT scan every six months for 2 years and then once a year for 3 years. They kept checking to see if it grew or changed shape. All was fine but I said the radiation will kill me. I told my doctor that I glow in the dark and while he laughed he did say I've had more than enough x-rays and to avoid those that are not absoutely necessary. I went to a new dentist who took x-rays. I go back in August for my 6 month cleaning and check up but will refuse x-rays. I never have cavities so why expose myself to unnecessary x-rays. If he should see a cavity with his naked eye, he can fill it, but NO x-rays for me. Of course, every year is the mammo and I get the 3-D, which I heard has more radiation than the regular mammo.

I just turned 70 but am extremely active and still work as a substitute teacher so I want to do whatever I can to preserve my health. docsgirl

Re: How many Xrays?

chrystaltree — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 16:12:28 GMT

It's not a silly question. That's a good question for your doctor. But as far as I know modern xray equipment doesn't give out much radiation at all. And since they stopped doing routine chest xrays and most of us only get xrays when there is something very wrong that requires imaging; I don't believe there's much, if any risk. It's not something I even think about. Xray techs and dentists etc wear lead protection because they are exposed to xrays all day, everyday, for their entire careers.

Re: How many Xrays?

Nightowlz — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:42:04 GMT

They say they are safe but who really knows. I don't do any unecessary x-rays. I have had 2 or 3 chest x-rays in my life, x-rays of my broken ankle, mammograms which I don't do every year, No CT's. I won't let them x-ray my teeth at the dentist unless there is something they need to see or a problem I'm having with an area. They don't like not being able to charge my Ins Co. & have done so even though I did not have the x-rays. They keep saying it's been x amt of yrs & I say I don't care. They also try to get me to let them do that x-ray that goes all the way around your head. Not happening so quit asking. I told DH not to let them x-ray his teeth all the time either. They also say you don't need that lead mat they throw over you any longer. I make them use it if I have to have an x-ray. There is no reason to have x-rays of your teeth every 6 mos or once per yr IMO. It's a money maker for the dentist.

Re: How many Xrays?

Daisy Sunflower — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 05:36:12 GMT

Re: How many Xrays?

blackhole99 — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 03:05:33 GMT

I just changed dentists after 30 years with the same guy who did nothing for me other than look in my mouth and tell everything looks good. One month later I had a root canal with all sorts of complications so I thought I need a dentist who is more proactive. My new dentist had his tech take a boat load of dental xrays and I just had a full set taken the year before. They said my prior dentist didn't send them adequate xrays and they needed more. I don't care what they say all those xrays can't be good.

Re: How many Xrays?

SaRina — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:10:42 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
You don't need to worry about dental x-rays but when you get into CT's there is much more radiation involved. I would not have any more of those than is absolutely necessary.

My Favorite Breed is Adopted

Just wanted to emphasize the importance of avoiding CT scans if at all possible. Each CT scan delivers radiation equivalent to several hundred x-rays. Repeated CT scans over time greatly increases one's risk of developing cancer.

In most cases, an MRI, which uses a benign magnetic field, can be used for diagnostic purposes instead of a CT scan, however, a CT scan may be necessary in some cases. Unfortunately, too many doctors will prescribe the CT scan because it is much less expensive than an MRI, but everyone should request the MRI first.