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Spliff · Feb 14, 2005, 01:42 PM

I've just had a root canal on one of my teeth. Because the root is so long, the dentist had a difficult time getting the entire tooth imaged in the x-ray. She took four x-rays (digital) of the tooth and will probably take a couple more when I return for a follow-up visit in a few days.

How much radiation is there in a digital x-ray?

I don't like being exposed unnecessarily x-ray radiation, but my dentist says the radiation from x-rays is less than what you get from spending a few hours in the sun. This sounds like ******** to me since UV rays and x-rays are on different parts of the spectrum.

MacMan4000 · Feb 14, 2005, 02:01 PM

I smell B.S.
At my dentist when you get an X-ray you have to ware an iron apron and the nurse hides behind a wall while the x-ray takes place. So if its so harmless then why do I need AN IRON APRON?!

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 14, 2005, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by MacMan4000:
I smell B.S.
At my dentist when you get an X-ray you have to ware an iron apron and the nurse hides behind a wall while the x-ray takes place.

Ya same here.

spiky_dog · Feb 14, 2005, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by MacMan4000:
I smell B.S.
At my dentist when you get an X-ray you have to ware an iron apron and the nurse hides behind a wall while the x-ray takes place. So if its so harmless then why do I need AN IRON APRON?!

because radiation is not that harmful to cells that aren't splitting actively. your testicles, assuming proper function, are the site of much meiosis and mitosis and as such are much more vulnerable to radiation. furthermore, mutations to sperm could be passed down in the germline to your children should that "lucky" sperm be the one to impregnate your partner. thus the lead crotch-blanket.

Eug Wanker · Feb 14, 2005, 02:08 PM

The amount of radiation is way more than a day outside, but still relatively low. See here. Still, for someone doing this all day, 5 days a week, it adds up. That's why they wear the radiation badges and hide behind walls.

P.S. The important parts to cover are the gonads (testicles/ovaries) and neck (thyroid).

Spliff · Feb 14, 2005, 02:14 PM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
The amount of radiation is way more than a day outside, but still relatively low. See here. Still, for someone doing this all day, 5 days a week, it adds up. That's why they wear the radiation badges and hide behind walls.

P.S. The important parts to cover are the gonads (testicles/ovaries) and neck (thyroid).

So, are 4-6 digital x-rays of a single tooth within 7 days anything to worry about?

BTW, my dentist also said that the digital x-rays (as opposed to the traditional exposed film x-rays) use much less radiation. Is this true.

Mafia · Feb 14, 2005, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by Spliff:
So, are 4-6 digital x-rays of a single tooth within 7 days anything to worry about?

BTW, my dentist also said that the digital x-rays (as opposed to the traditional exposed film x-rays) use much less radiation. Is this true.

as long as you got the testi blanket on your cool, i'm sure.

Cadaver · Feb 14, 2005, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by Spliff:
BTW, my dentist also said that the digital x-rays (as opposed to the traditional exposed film x-rays) use much less radiation. Is this true.

Yes. This is true.

Conventional film dental x-rays require even more radiation per unit area than a chest x-ray. Chest films (and films of other body parts) use a cassette (like a holder) that have a fluoroescent coating which converts the absorbed x-rays into visible light, which then in turn exposes the film (as the film is more sensitive to visible light than to x-rays). This way, good images can be obtained with less radiation.

Dental film & holders, on the other hand, are too small to contain enough fluoroescent material, so they need to be exposed directly by the x-rays - which in turn requires a higher dose.

Digital x-ray image detectors are sensitive enough that such high doses for dental x-rays are no longer necessary. While still requiring relatively more radiation per unit area than a larger body part, the digital dental x-rays require much less radiation than the older conventional films do.

One airplane trip from say New York to Colorado exposes you to more ionizing radiation than the dental x-rays gave you anyway.

The dentist/x-ray techs wear an apron because they might be getting zapped all day long, 5 days a week, where as you only are getting it once (or a couple times) a year.

The leaded apron, as someone mentioned in a post above, is meant to cover the most radio-sensitive parts of your body - testicles/ovaries, breasts and thyroid gland.

nredman · Feb 14, 2005, 03:47 PM

one time at the dentist the hygentist didnt even put the iron vest on me, i thought what the F i am screwed. then again another person tried to do it without a vest and i asked them "dont i need the vest" and she goes its not required??? i took one anyways. i had a root canal done with a really long root and it took them 3-4 xrays to get the whole thing on the xray. i probably have a huge tumor in my melon...stupid dentist

Cadaver · Feb 14, 2005, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by nredman:
one time at the dentist the hygentist didnt even put the iron vest on me, i thought what the F i am screwed. then again another person tried to do it without a vest and i asked them "dont i need the vest" and she goes its not required??? i took one anyways. i had a root canal done with a really long root and it took them 3-4 xrays to get the whole thing on the xray. i probably have a huge tumor in my melon...stupid dentist

Actually, the brain is one of the more radio-resistant organs... Relatively few actively-dividing cells.

Spliff · Feb 14, 2005, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
The leaded apron, as someone mentioned in a post above, is meant to cover the most radio-sensitive parts of your body - testicles/ovaries, breasts and thyroid gland.

I thought the thyroid gland is located half-way up the throat. None of the leaded aprons I've worn while getting dental x-rays actually protect the throat. They just cover the chest and groin.

I wonder if dental x-rays could be one of the causes of the increased rates of thyroid cancer over the last 30 years.

nredman · Feb 14, 2005, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
Actually, the brain is one of the more radio-resistant organs... Relatively few actively-dividing cells.

ahh i see, well it was weird when i asked the lady why i didnt need a vest, it was almost like it wasnt necessary anymore. who knows.

cjrivera · Feb 14, 2005, 04:42 PM

It could also be, that with newer x-ray equipment, the x-ray beam may be more focused with less scatter, and therefore less radiation to other parts of the bodies, compared to older machines.

Demonhood · Feb 14, 2005, 05:00 PM

the dentist's aide doesn't want you procreating.
stop hitting on her.

d0ubled0wn · Feb 14, 2005, 05:03 PM

I just had an xray done today for my wisdom teeth. It wasn't just a quick zap on both sides of the mouth, the machine actually rotated around my head to get a full picture of my teeth. I could swear I felt the xrays heating up my brain, sprouting up tumors like popping popcorn. I'm gonna sue those bastids.

I'm really not looking forward to getting my wisdom teeth pulled. How bad is a root canal in terms of pain?

nredman · Feb 14, 2005, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by Demonhood:
the dentist's aide doesn't want you procreating.
stop hitting on her.

actually my dentist is pretty hot, married i think. hot in a dorky kind of way

Spliff · Feb 14, 2005, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by d0ubled0wn:
I'm really not looking forward to getting my wisdom teeth pulled. How bad is a root canal in terms of pain?

I've had two root canals. Both were the worst dental experiences I've ever had because the roots were dying and had started to develop abscesses. Lots of pain. Throbbing pain and ice-pick-in-the-face pain.

However, I have several friends who said that their root canals were no big deal. So it seems to be an individual thing.

RAILhead · Feb 14, 2005, 07:24 PM

AAAAAAHHHHHHH!

Eriamjh · Feb 14, 2005, 07:27 PM

X-ray pussies. Sure, a malfunctioning X-ray might burn you, but if dental X-rays were so harmfull, wouldn't it be all over the news?

Person Man · Feb 14, 2005, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by d0ubled0wn:
How bad is a root canal in terms of pain?

The root canal itself is not very painful. The abscess in the root is more painful. When I had an abcessed front tooth it was extremely painful and the whole right side of my face swelled for a while. I was put on antibiotics immediately and once the swelling went down the dentist did a root canal.

I didn't feel a thing from the procedure itself, though the tooth itself hurt like hell. But when he drilled through the tooth into the abcess cavity, I heard a loud pop as the pressure was released. Instant pain relief.

Oh, and Cadaver, what's your medical specialty? Mine is general internal medicine.