Thyroid Shields

[Pixia]

Hi, I have an under-active thyroid; does anyone know if you are able to request a thyroid shield for NHS dental X-rays in the UK? I recently read an article about them: 'The Use of Thyroid Shields in Dental Radiography' by John Holroyd (European ALARA Network), and was just wondering if anybody has ever been offered these at their dentist; I never have, and my dentist always asks me to recline my head back when undertaking these. On viewing the photo guidelines in the article, it show that this can expose the thyroid gland to radiation, and that the correct head position faces forwards.

[fortunata]

We should all have free access to the shields. I believe every dentist should have them. Having said that, when I asked for them at my last check up, I was told by my dentist they don’t have them and the X-ray wouldn’t harm my thyroid at all. Nevertheless, I refused the X-ray.