Question 1

what does dental x rays do to your baby if pregnant?

Accepted Answer

Dental xray.: The dentist will shield your pelvis. There is no risk.

Question 2

can i wear my dental films while getting a chiropractic x-ray i'm getting care from both a chiropractor and a dentist.  everyone wants to xray me all the time!  can i wear the old fashioned dental xray films while the chiro images my head and neck region?

Accepted Answer

It's : It's great that you are aware of these things and of the potential cumulative radiation exposure.  Unfortunately that wont work technically.  Dental xrays use a lower dose compared to a spine or skull xray.  The beam is focused on that small film they put in your mouth.  The beam for a cervical spine of skull xray is larger in size and positioned to give certain, standard views which are different than the dental views.  If the dental films were in your mouth at the time of exposure during a cervical spine film my guess is that they would be overexposed and/or blurry.  Fortunately both exams are low dose in the spectrum of all radiology exams performed so undergoing them separately does not add much dose to your cumulative exposure.  However, I do encourage you to speak to your doctor(s) about the necessity of the repeated xrays.

Question 3

i had a dental xray and two fillings done about a week or two after ovulation and i just found out i'm pregnant.  could there be any damage to fetus??

Accepted Answer

Don't worry: Your dental treatment will have no ill effect on your baby. Congrats !

Question 4

i'm 2 months pregnant w/twins. i've been having really bad dental probs. i've been to the dentist and they won't do anything until i've had the babies. are there any home remedies?

Accepted Answer

Ask your OB: Ask your OB doc what you can take as well as when you can have your acute dental problems addressed by your dentist.  Your dentist should consult with your OB to obtain more information regarding any restrictions in treatment and medications.

Question 5

if a mother took tetracycline during pregnancy, would the infant's baby teeth come out stained - or would they emerge white and stain over time?

Accepted Answer

Intrinsic stain: If an expectant mom were prescribed the cycline family of antibiotics, then the babies permanent teeth may be intrinsically mottled when these teeth erupt. The color of tetracycline mottled teeth is not a surface stain. It is the inside and through & through color of the individual's teeth. These teeth may require aesthetic dentistry in the future.

Question 6

can dental x-rays without precaution cause chromosome deletion to the baby?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: The modern dental x-ray dose is very low. The x-ray beam is also columated so the beam is very small. Virtually no scatter exists. Also, the dentist generally shields your body with a lead apron.  The beam is pointed at the patients tooth, not their abdomen.  X-rays are much safer than dr oz will have you believe.

Question 7

i heard that getting a dental x-ray without a shield during thefirst 8 weeks of pregnancy can cause organ problems to the baby. is it true? i am worried about mine.

Accepted Answer

Be Careful: It is always wise to shield vital organs whenever you are having dental xrays taken.  When you are pregnant it is advisable to double shield your abdonem.  That means placing one shield from neck to knees and another shield across your abdomen.  The risk is small, but it is not worth taking a chance of having the radiation causing changes in any rapidly growing cells (the fetus).

Question 8

i'm 3 weeks pregnant. i'm in dental school. i have been taking x-rays this past month. i didn't know i was pregnant. do you think it affected the baby?

Accepted Answer

Congratulations!: Congratulations on your career in dentistry! it is highly unlikely your exposure to radiation exposed your baby. If you follow the guidelines for radiation safety then your personal exposure should be zero! radiation hygiene and safety is very important for many reasons. Be sure your protect yourself and all of those you work with for every exposure. Females have much less exposure to the gonads.

Question 9

im an or nurse. i forgot to put lead on and was in a room for two days with dental x-ray and no lead. im 7 weeks pregnant. did i harm  my baby?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: Dental x-rays are extremely low in today's digital age, not much different than background radiation.  Report your scenario to your OBGyn.  And "I forgot" is not an excuse.  As radiation is cumulative it is always necessary to follow all of the standard procedures that you were taught.

Question 10

are dental x-rays taken on a baby's first visit to the dentist? my daughter's scheduled for her first visit to the dentist soon, and just has a few teeth. i'm a bit worried that dental x-rays could be harmful to her, so i'd like to know if they will be us

Accepted Answer

You : You don't say how old your daughter is, but if she only has a few teeth, i'm assuming around 2 years old.

Radiographs have the purpose of allowing us to "see" in areas that are not visible (between the teeth, in the bone, etc). Dentists will take them to ensure a thorough exam is given to the patient, or when they need to examine a particular problem.

Dental radiographs are very, very low in strength and are non-harmful to the patient when taken for diagnostic purposes.

That being said, i doubt your dentist will see a need to take them at her age since her teeth are probably in great shape, no cavities to be found. Ask him/her at the visit if they plan on taking the films and why. You do have the right to refuse the films if you wish.

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Doctor answers about:

What does dental x rays do to your baby if pregnant

A member asked:

What does dental x rays do to your baby if pregnant?

A member asked:

Can i wear my dental films while getting a chiropractic x-ray i'm getting care from both a chiropractor and a dentist. everyone wants to xray me all the time! can i wear the old fashioned dental xray films while the chiro images my head and neck region?

A member asked:

I had a dental xray and two fillings done about a week or two after ovulation and i just found out i'm pregnant. could there be any damage to fetus??

A member asked:

I'm 2 months pregnant w/twins. i've been having really bad dental probs. i've been to the dentist and they won't do anything until i've had the babies. are there any home remedies?

A member asked:

If a mother took tetracycline during pregnancy, would the infant's baby teeth come out stained - or would they emerge white and stain over time?

A member asked:

Can dental x-rays without precaution cause chromosome deletion to the baby?

A member asked:

I heard that getting a dental x-ray without a shield during thefirst 8 weeks of pregnancy can cause organ problems to the baby. is it true? i am worried about mine.

A member asked:

I'm 3 weeks pregnant. i'm in dental school. i have been taking x-rays this past month. i didn't know i was pregnant. do you think it affected the baby?

A member asked:

Im an or nurse. i forgot to put lead on and was in a room for two days with dental x-ray and no lead. im 7 weeks pregnant. did i harm my baby?

A member asked:

Are dental x-rays taken on a baby's first visit to the dentist? my daughter's scheduled for her first visit to the dentist soon, and just has a few teeth. i'm a bit worried that dental x-rays could be harmful to her, so i'd like to know if they will be us

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