TTC_12_05_18_Vol.15-No.06.p1-12

December 5 - 11, 2018 www.TheTownCommon.com Page 9
Health & Wellness
BY J. PETER ST. CLAIR, DMD
There are very few dental practices
that still use analog film and
chemicals to produce dental x-rays.
With digital technology around for
decades, and improving along the
way, there really is no excuse not to
be digital.
However, patients still often
express concern with overexposure
from radiation from dental x-
rays. While I could bore you with
statistics, to put it into perspective,
it would take almost 400 dental x-
rays in one year to equal the amount
of radiation a person picks up from
background sources each year.
Here are a few questions answered
about dental x-rays:
I had a dental x ray while I was
pregnant. I am worried that my
unborn child might have been
exposed to the radiation. Can you
please tell me if there are any risks
to my baby from this?
There is no information
suggesting any risk to an unborn
child from dental x-rays received
by the mother. We were taught in
dental school to avoid dental x-rays
on pregnant patients. However,
with newer technology the radiation
dose to the fetus is insignificant.
Prudent practice would dictate
Brighter Smiles...
Questions on Dental X-Rays
limiting x-rays on pregnant women,
but there is absolutely no harm in
taking x-rays if needed to diagnose
a problem.
Is there residual radiation in a
room after a dental radiograph
has been taken?
X-rays cease to exist when the
machine is switched off, much like
the light from a light bulb when it
is turned off. No residual radiation
remains.
How much has dental x-
radiation been studied and how
concerned should I be about
having dental x-rays done? Is there
a limit on how many I can have?
We now have very complete
information on patient radiation
doses from dental x-rays. They are
among the lowest radiation dose
exams of any diagnostic radiologic
procedure in the healing arts.
Current practices deliver patient
doses from a full-mouth series of
intraoral films (usually 14-18 films)
that are less than what a person
receives in a month from natural
environmental sources (commonly
called background exposure).
Doses from bitewing or panoramic
films are even less. New technology
is reducing the doses still further.
There is no limit on how many dental
x-rays you can have. The decision
to have a dental x-ray is based on
the benefit of knowing whether or
not there is a cavity, crack, or some
other abnormality. The decision to
have them is based on what you and
your dentist agree on being best for
your specific situation.
I recently had some dental x
rays and the operator forgot to
place the lead apron on me. Is this
a problem?
Use of the lead apron to protect
the patient undergoing dental
radiographic examination was
recommended some 50 years ago,
when equipment was crude. This
was because x-ray beams were not
restricted to the area of clinical
interest, beams were not filtered,
and x-ray film was slower, causing
radiation exposures 10 to 100 times
higher than received today. With
the current technology reducing
radiation exposure significantly
and the beam limited only to the
area of interest, there is little or no
measurable difference in wholebody
dose whether a lead apron
is used or not. The lead apron is
no longer regarded as essential
although some consider it a prudent
practice, especially for pregnant and
potentially pregnant patients.
If you have any other questions
on dental x-rays, please e-mail them
to me.
Dr. St. Clair maintains a private
dental practice in Rowley and
Newburyport dedicated to healthcentered
family dentistry. If there are
certain topics you would like to see
written about or questions you have
please email them to him at jpstclair@
stclairdmd.com. You can view all
previously written columns at www.
jpeterstclairdentistry.com/blog.
Newest Phone Scam: Social Security
If you see the number 1-
800-772-1213 on your Caller
ID, beware. Social Security
has put out a warning about
scams involving spoofed phone
numbers. Scammers can make
any numbers they want appear,
even the number for the Social
Security Administration!
Social Security is not likely to
call you. They certainly won’t
call you and ask you to verify
your number (especially the new
number on the card you were
Senior Scene
recently sent), or the bank where
your automatic deposit is sent, or
any other personal information.
Social Security won’t call and
threaten to take away your benefit
if you don’t answer their questions,
or tell you they can help get your
benefits increased. If you get one
of these calls, hang up and report
it at the Office of the Inspector
General (800-269-0271).
But there’s more. The newest
phone scam trick is to make your
caller I.D. look like the call is from
someone in your town, with state
and local area codes. While you
might be suspicious of out-ofcountry
area codes or calls from
out of state, you’re more likely to
pick up the phone if you think it
might be one of your neighbors.
This is what the scammers count
on.
If you do pick up one of these
calls, or any number you don’t
recognize, the most important
thing to remember is to never
say “yes.” Your voice is being
recorded, and if you answer “yes”
to any question, scammers will
use that as verification that you
want to sign for whatever it is
they’re peddling.
Instead of answering any of
their questions, ask your own
questions. Ask who is calling, ask
where they got your number ... or
better yet, just hang up without
saying a word.
(c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.
Dr. Laura anne Potvin, P.C.
oPtoMetriStS
EYE CARE
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Dr. nYLa LaMBert
Dr. KatHLeen Horn
Dr. CatHLeen DouCette
NOw LOCATED AT
939 SALEM ST., GROvELAND
978-374-8991
Are you holding
back a beautiful smile?
Making your smile beautiful changes the way
people look at you and the way you look at yourself.
All Phases of Dental Care Including:
• Grinding/Clenching/TMJ Therapy
• Sleep Apnea/Snoring Treatment
Learn More: www.stclairdmd.com
Please call our office to schedule
Contact your advertising a comlimentary 30-minute consultant consultation.
today....
77 Wethersfield Street, Rowley, MA 01969
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