Dental X rays and thyroid guard.

[grumpyold]

My new dentist wants to take X rays. I have Hashi's (or maybe Ord's but I've never had a scan nor can I feel anything untoward.)

I have read conflicting reports on the efficacy and necessity of thyroid guards/collars when having dental X rays. The new dentist has neither.

The practice manager said I would be exposed to more radiation on a plane journey than exposure during X rays. (Yes, but not directed in the vicinity of my thyroid.)

Should I be concerned?

Thankyou for any advice/opinions.

[Ellie-Louise]

When I questioned my own dentist, he needed to take 2 X-rays, he said it was such a low dose and went nowhere near the thyroid. Special collars haven’t been used for years and years apparently.

[grumpyold in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Thankyou for replying. I think I will go ahead with the X rays. Most of what I have read says that shields can actually trap radiation rather than letting it dissipate.

x

[dina7]

My holistic dentist is the only one who uses a thyroid guard - all the others have fobbed me off as you've been. So I guess it is necessary. I just wish we really knew the answer, but as we're not scientists ....

[grumpyold in reply to dina7]

Thankyou for replying. I think I'll have them anyway as over the years (I'm 65) I have had, literally, dozens because I have the periodontal disease which frequently accompanies Hashi's. My bone loss has got worse in the past 20+ years.I'm figuring, a couple more won't kill me. Hope not, anyway!

[dina7 in reply to grumpyold]

No, I'm sure they won't kill you. A little more of your thyroid maybe ... The lady who makes my dental plates agreed with my holistic dentist that plastic plates would be better than the metal ones I've got - in an ideal world. But she pointed out that I'd left that world a while ago! Sometimes we just have to go for the least worst option and if you've found a good dentist probably worth putting up with the xrays. Or buying your own thyroid guard, I did look once and they weren't ridiculously expensive.