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20 March 2010

Answer to Question #2673 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Exposures not directly to embryo/fetus

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

Several years ago I had dental x rays done and my dentist forgot to put the protective shield on. I'm now worried about the damage it may have caused, especially with my reproductive organs. Do you think I should be worried?

Dental x-ray exposures do not expose your ovaries to any reproductive, clinically significant dose of radiation. When you receive a diagnostic x ray study of your head, teeth, chest, arms, or legs at a qualified facility, the exposure of the x rays is not to your ovaries. The "scatter" that might reach the ovaries would be extremely small and would not represent an increased risk for birth defects or miscarriage in a future pregnancy. Your ovaries did not receive a dose that would result in any measurable increased reproductive risk.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist

Answer posted on 13 May 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.