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30 July 2010

Answer to Question #2471 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Radiation Effects — Effects on Tissues and Organs

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Our pediatrician has ordered that we have our four-year-old daughter have a sinus x ray. The x-ray technician did a backview one. The technician had to do three x-rays in the same area because the technician failed the first and second time and this was done consecutively. What would be the effect to my four-year-old daughter? Is the amount of radiation bad for my daughter? Thank you.

There is no information showing any harmful effect to patients from any diagnostic x rays. Known harmful effects require doses at least 100 times that of sinus films. The radiation dose to the patient from sinus films is among the smallest of all medical x rays. Radiologists try to avoid retakes. Cost control is probably more important than radiation dose.

Conclusion: Benefit to the patient strongly outweighs any possible risk.

S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD

Answer posted on 9 April 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.