So far malignant changes have been found on exposure to higher radiation, but just want to know whether there is any study in which malignant / genetic changes have been found on constant exposure of intra oral periapical radiograph machine?
Association between dental X rays and brain tumours has been observed by Lin et al (2013). However, they found that only benign tumours seem to show this association. An earlier study conducted by Claus et al (2012) concluded that in dental X ray exposure in past (when exposure used to be higher than the present) appeared to be associated with malignant meningioma. However, I am not aware of any study that establishes the association of IOPA with oro-pharyngial carcinoma. I am attacching both the articles for your reference.
I am not aware of any studies. The EPA in South Australia feels that the dose from intra-oral x-rays is so low that monitoring is probably not necessary. I think you would need an unreasonable amount of intra-oral films to cause cancer.
The study published in 2012 showing a "possible association" between benign meninigioma and dental radiographs raised a lot of controversy and further public confusion over the use of routine dental radiographs. This was not a very good structured study and the results should have been more tempered to reflect the scientific level of the study. I am not aware of any link between routine "diagnostic" dental radiographs and the risk of potential malignant CNS lesions. Therapuetic irradiation for SCC to the head and neck and post irradiation sarcomas is another matter and should be separated in the discussion.
I feel an association doesn't necessarily mean 'causation' or 'risk'. There may be confounding factors - known or unknown.
I do agree with Sarah Constantine and Robert J Kanas. The dose of dental IOPA is so low which cannot lead to any intra oral or extra oral pathology. The thing matters is the maximum permissible dose of radiation/year should not extend, which also leads to initial changes over the skin or mucosa as we know.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Medical Pharmacology
- Clinical Pharmacology