Skip to main content

Dental Group Says Lead Aprons No Longer Needed for X-Rays

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 2, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2024 -- The heavy lead apron dentists drape over you during dental X-rays may soon be a thing of the past.

On Thursday, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced that its member dentists can dispense with the aprons, technically called "thyroid collars" because they were used to shield that organ from radiation.

"After reviewing nearly 100 articles, guidance documents and regulations related to radiography, the expert panel determined thyroid and abdominal shielding during dental imaging is no longer recommended, and the use of these forms of protective shielding should be discontinued as routine practice," the ADA said.

The organization points out that X-ray and other diagnostic technologies have gotten more precise in recent decades, cutting down on the amount of radiation exposure.

Therefore, dentists should dispense with lead aprons and instead think about which and how many scans are really needed.

In some cases, the use of lead aprons could block imaging and hinder a diagnosis, the organization added.

“When this happens, more radiographs need to be taken and unnecessary X-rays are what we want to avoid,” said Dr. Purnima Kumar, chair of the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs.

“The central point of these recommendations is that clinicians should order radiographs in moderation, to minimize both patients’ and dental professionals’ exposure to ionizing radiation,” Kumar added in an ADA news release.

The new recommendation to abandon aprons applies to all patients, including women who are pregnant, the ADA noted.

To better safeguard patients, the group advises that:

“We encourage dentists and their teams to review these best-practice recommendations, comply with radiation protection regulations and talk with their patients about any questions or concerns before ordering dental imaging,” said Kumar, a professor of dentistry and chair of the department of periodontology and oral medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

The guidelines were published Feb. 1 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Sources

  • American Dental Association, news release, Feb. 1, 2024

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

AI Implant Allows Stroke Survivor to Communicate in Both Spanish, English

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- A bilingual brain implant has allowed a stroke survivor to communicate in both Spanish and English, scientists report. Turning to an AI method known as...

For Minor Health Issues, Pharmacist Care May Be the Low-Cost Option

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Allowing pharmacists to treat minor illnesses could potentially expand health care access to more people and save millions of dollars, a new study...

Doctors May Have Tried to Treat Cancer in Ancient Egypt

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- A 4,000-year-old skull provides evidence that ancient Egyptians might have tried to treat cancer, a new study claims. Microscopic observation of the...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.