Dental x-rays, To Do or Not To Do, That is the Question

I'm sure by now you have all heard the news, Dental x-rays cause brain tumors...we are sure that you are all concerned about your health and safety.  I want to assure you that we too are concerned with your health and safety, that is why we do what we do.  We believe that a healthy smile brings a healthy life.

Let me take a moment and help you better understand the brief glimpse of flawed information that the media is capitalizing upon.

Dental x-rays are used to diagnosis and determine necessary treatment of dental conditions. We use them to evaluate and monitor problems such as decay and periodontal disease.

Without x-rays, we are unable to see the true extent of a potential problem, we are literally only seeing the tip of the iceberg.   X-rays allow us to check for decay between teeth, periodontal disease, and any bone irregularities, without them our hands are tied and we are not delivering the BEST possible treatment.  In our office, we take digital x-rays, which use up to 80% less radiation than the traditional x-ray films used in the past.

The epidemiological (solely a statistical study, not a scientific analysis) study linking brain tumors to dental x-rays is flawed in a several areas presented below are a few:

There is no scientific study. In this study, patients were asked to remember their history of x-rays, but their answers were not verified by their dental records, or even insurance records. In our office, many patients do not always remember correctly when their last dental visit was, let alone exactly what type of x-rays were taken.  It is simply one of those things that we file as something we did, you might remember your last visit 6 months ago but do you truly remember what happened at the prior 3 or 4, or 20?We take x-rays according to the recommended ADA guidelines. 

This study discusses exposure with film x-rays which were used in dentistry in the past, few offices still use standard film x-rays. Digital x-rays are used in many offices today, and they reduce radiation exposure by up to 80%.  At Griswold Dental Associates we have been using digital technology  for all x-rays, for the past few years.

There are inconsistencies in the data. The study found a link with 2 bitewing x-rays, but no link with the 16 film full mouth series. If 2 x-rays show a link to meningiomas, logically, wouldn’t 16 x-rays show a much greater link?   the lack of association with full mouth x-rays led one expert  to question the connection.

"They found a small risk (from) a pair of bitewings, but not from a full mouth series, which is multiple bitewings.  That inconsistency is impossible to understand to me," said Dr. Alan Lurie, president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.

The benign tumor being associated is a meningioma, which is found in 3 out of every 100,000 people. The way to diagnose this tumor is by a CT scan (which uses radiation similar to dental x-rays) or by MRI.

Radiation exposure: measured in Sv (sieverts)(millisieverts = 1/1000 sievert)

Chest x-ray Computed Tomography (CT scan)    6900Sv
Natural Radiation per year                                    2400Sv
Round trip Flight from Tokyo to New York           200Sv
Chest x-ray                                                                50Sv
4 digital x-rays                                                    .013mSv  (.000013Sv)
full mouth series of x-rays                                  .180mSv  (.00018Sv)


When dental x-rays are recommended in our office please ask why, that is your right.  We will explain their importance, all our treatment is guided by each patient's individual needs.

Remember should you refuse xrays, this would not allow your dentist to accurately diagnose and treat your dental problems. If you are concerned due to this recent report on dental x-rays, please be sure you speak to us. 


sources:
Keio University
www.doctorspiller.com/dental
www.webmd.com
www.reuters.com