In Texas, all dental patients must be protected by lead aprons with thyroid collars when undergoing dental x-rays. State law requires it. So a pregnant woman receives only a small dose of radiation—focused precisely on just the mouth.Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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Pregnancy and X-Rays
By Dr. Linda Niessen STORY: PREGNANCY & X-RAYS
SCRIPT #556 SHOOT: 5/6/04 DHC Master #19 Timecode: 25:57 X-ray and Birth Weight Study Journal of the American Medical Association May – 2004 www.ada.org Note: Streaming Video of Broadcast: Streaming Video of Broadcast:
Monday, May 10, 2004
The American Dental Association recommends that pregnant women postpone elective dental x-rays until after delivery; however, there are times when an x-ray may be required during pregnancy to help dentists diagnose and treat oral disease.
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What’s more dangerous for a pregnant woman: undergoing dental x-rays or delaying dental treatment? A recent study raised that question when it connected dental x-ray exposure to a risk of delivering a baby with a low birth weight. Dr. Linda Niessen has some answers in this Dental Health Check.
In Texas, all dental patients must be protected by lead aprons with thyroid collars when undergoing dental x-rays. State law requires it. So a pregnant woman receives only a small dose of radiation—focused precisely on just the mouth.
A recent study from Washington State linked low birth weight with dental x-rays during pregnancy. But women were not routinely protected by lead thyroid collars and aprons which drastically reduce radiation exposure.
“But they hypothesized that the mechanism was low dose radiation to the thyroid of the mother, which resulted in low metabolism for the fetus and a low birth weight. This is a preliminary study. It’s only a mathematical association and it needs to be proved out.”
Dr. Byron Benson, a dental radiologist, worries that pregnant women will avoid the dentist. “Not treating dental problems while you’re pregnant could certainly increase the risk of health problems to the fetus.”
Other studies link gum disease during pregnancy with a higher risk of a premature delivery.
“From inflammation, we see chemicals released. And in the pregnant woman, these chemicals can lead to premature births of infants.”
And during pregnancy, some women develop gum problems for the first time related to hormone changes. Dental treatment becomes critical to overall good health.
“On occasion, I’ll see a pregnant female who needs to be seen monthly.”
The best approach is to maintain good oral health before you become pregnant. But if you have a dental problem during pregnancy, you should not be afraid to see the dentist. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
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