I am currently 10 weeks pregnant and I work in the dental field. On a daily basis I take several dental radiographs. Is it safe to use a handheld x-ray system (Nomad Pro 2) while pregnant?
Yes, it is safe to use the handheld system while pregnant. A recent study (Makdissi et al. 2016) showed that for someone doing 100 x rays per week for 46 weeks using a handheld unit, the radiation dose to the trunk was not measurable and dose at waist level varied from 0 to 0.25 mSv. The regulatory limit for an occupationally exposed person in the United States is 50 mSv per year and to a pregnant occupationally exposed worker is 5 mSv per year. These reported results are even below allowable levels for members of the public.
The study’s results showed that it is safe to use handheld x-ray units even while pregnant.
Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist
Reference
Makdissi J, Pawar RR, Johnson B, Chong BS. The effects of device position on the operator’s radiation dose when using a handheld portable x-ray device. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 45; 2016.
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