Is it safe to have dental x rays while pregnant?

Im 16 weeks pregnant and im going to the orthodontist next week. Since im a new patient they want to do x rays and the x rays I have from my family dentist is too old so the orthodontist wants new ones. My ob said it was ok but I want more opinions before I do it. So is it safe for the baby?

Is it safe to have dental x rays while pregnant?
Radiation doses have been reduced significantly. Improvements in equipment, film and even the developing process have allowed us to lower the dose received by the patient. X-rays do not fly around a room all willy-nilly. They are highly directed beams which expose only the area of interest....in your case, the teeth.





The following websites have questions answered by qualified medical personel who are experts in radiation and it's effects. Here is what I found:





"Dental x rays, as with most x rays, are taken with the machine focused right on the area where the x rays need to go. Because of this there is virtually no exposure to anything other than the item of interest (in this case, a tooth or teeth). While dental x rays would not expose your baby, there could be exposure of the baby if you had abdominal or pelvic x rays. In case you’re interested, after week 20 the baby is fairly insensitive to radiation exposure—relative to the


first 12 weeks of gestation."





http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q36...





"The level of exposure from scatter x rays from dental x rays is too low to harm the embryo or fetus at any stage of pregnancy."





http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q21...





"There is no information suggesting any risk to an unborn child from dental x rays received by the mother. When a pregnant patient undergoes a complete dental x-ray examination, the radiation dose to the fetus is insignificant. And, by the way, it does not matter whether a lead apron was used or not."





http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faq...
Reply:they said if u are in the 2nd trimester then its ok. But still being a stubborn person that I am...i was in my 2nd trimester and refuse to have an xray done at my new dentist. I just rather be safe than sorry.
Reply:you know I dont think it is but I am not sure
Reply:my doctor said that until my 20th week that it wasnt safe
Reply:i think if u use a shield thing or whatever to protect your tummy it is just make sure that you tell the dentist your pregnant
Reply:the dentist would be in trouble if it isnt safe and you have informed them you are pregnant,


if you are worried why not cancel and rebook for after your birth, better safe than sorry, after all we know a normal xray can damage your unborn, might be better for your worry levels etc
Reply:i'm a dental assistant and i was trained to not do x-rays on a pregnant person unless there was surgery that was medically nes... to have the xrays
Reply:one of the first questions the dentist asked before doing an x-ray for my wisdom tooth is "are you pregnant?".





so i don't think it's very safe to do it during pregnancy. like what some of them have said, better be safe than sorry!
Reply:i've always wondered about this as my total cowboy of a dentist made me have an x ray when i was 14 weeks pregnant with my twins. he was a useless and wouldnt of cared either way if something happened to my babies. sorry i cant help you but your not supposed to have a normal x ray when your pregnant so whats different about a dental one?
Reply:its fine cos its so far from bump


if you want though they can gve you a lead apron like at the hospital
Reply:hi there, at 22 weeks of my current pregnancy i had a nasty fall, i damaged my foot and ankle quite badly, at the hospital the doctor advised NO unnecessary xray as they dont know the effects of radiation on baby, i took this advice and was well again after 3 weeks. I would say dont risk it, it can wait until your baby is born. good luck xxxx
Reply:I am a dental assistant and 12 weeks pregnant. I take 100's of xrays a year. I thought I was in danger because I take so many but I was told it is perfectly ok. Being in the field, I know we do take xrays on pregnant women (even in the first trimester) who are ok with it. (It is of course up to them) Dental xrays release some of the lowest radiation out there. You can ask to be double shielded if that will make you feel better. Since you are in the second trimester and all of the major organs are already developed I would say you are just fine to have xrays taken. Xrays do not harm your baby unless they are in extreme levels...for instance...I would say NOOO to a CT scan. Hope this gets rid of some of your fears for you. There are so many rumors out there from people who are not educated in the field of radiology. AND if your OB is ok with then you should be to.

www.sandals.com