RE: Risk from dental x ray

["Neil, David M" <neildm@id.doe.gov>]

I raised a question of this sort to my dentist, and he told me that one
'driver' for frequent (read: excessive) x-rays is the insurance companies.
Seems they want to verify 'before and after' conditions.

Dave Neil
neildm@id.doe.gov

On Wednesday, March 10, 1999 8:05 AM, Gibbs, S Julian
[SMTP:s.julian.gibbs@vanderbilt.edu] wrote:
>  ...
> 
> I too have used time of environmental exposure that gives 
> the same effective dose as the diagnostic exposure.
> However, the more compelling issue is simply: Is the 
> exposure justified on clinical grounds?  Dentists have been 
> trained to perform repeat radiography on asymptomatic 
> patients at regular intervals.  In many offices this is 
> done by the dental hygienist before the dentist sees the 
> patient.  Now there are high-yield criteria for deciding on 
> the diagnostic need for radiographs, based on history and 
> physical exam. I would therefore advise the patient to ask 
> the dentist to justify the exposure on clinical grounds.  
> Clinically indicated and justified radiographs should be 
> obtained on grounds that the expected health benefit should 
> outweigh any radiation risk.  On the other hand, exposure 
> that is not justified is by definition wasted.
> Hope this helps.
> ***********************************************************
> S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD               Voice: 615-322-3190
> Professor of Radiology                    FAX: 615-322-3764 
> Dept. of Radiology & Radiological Sciences
> Vanderbilt University Medical Center
> Nashville TN 37232-2670 Email:s.julian.gibbs@vanderbilt.edu
> ***********************************************************
> "Where there's a will there's a family!"  -Anonymous
> 
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