Dental Radiation Exposure of Children

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In the dental setting the main concern is the dental radiation effects on children. Panoramic dental x-rays can cause DNA damage and cellular death in oral mucosa cells of these children. Cone-beam CT scanner, which was claimed to be the safe, is harmful on children due to them being more susceptible to radiation effects. Children are by far more susceptible to changes in their cells from a given dose of radiation compared to adults because they are still growing, developing, and changing. Radiation protection is needed to protect all children and adults from the exposure, the less the exposure the less problems later in life.
Children are more susceptible to changes in their cells if given adult doses of radiation. Primary risks to children from these scans are increased risks in them developing cancer and changes to their genes in later life. There was a study done in Brazil at the Sao Paulo Metodista University, which consisted of 17 healthy children. 8 of the children were boys and 9 of them were girls, around 7 years of age who had had panoramic dental radiographs as outpatients at the Department of Pediatrics. All the panoramic dental radiographs were requested and performed by the dentist. This study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of UMESP. Prior to the x-ray exposure oral mucosa was collected and then 10 days after the exposure from the x-rays they were collected again. After the oral mucosa is collected post exposure to x-rays the levels of radiation were tested showing very little effect change. The statistics of this study are, prior to exposure 17 children had micro nucleated cells of 0.04-0.06 and after the exposure to the x-rays they were 0.05-0.06 cells that were micro nucleated. Very little change show...

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... when the settings were put at the pediatric levels, as so they should. Protection is one of the most key things to do when protecting any patient from radiation exposure. The lead vest, lead neck collars, settings of the radiation set to each patient rather than a random setting, and the abilities as the dental assistant to be competent enough to take the set of x-rays the first time without needing to expose your patient numerous times.

Bibliography
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Aker, M. (2010, December). Retrieved from http://www.stopcancerfund.org/pz-medical-treatments-cancer-risks/danger-at-the-dentists-and-orthodontists-office-children-exposed-to-radiation/.
Orthop, A. J. (2013, June). Retrieved from http://wwwi.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23726328.
Ribeiro, F. A. (2007). DNA damage and cellular death in oral mucosa cells of children who have undergone panoramic dental radiography.

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