Dentists commonly use x-rays to assist in making a diagnosis regarding the status of a person's dental health. X-rays can penetrate the facial area to provide photographic images that can be employed in this effort. However, they can also be harmful if the people involved are not properly protected from the radiation produced during the procedure. Anyone intimately involved in the procedure, such as the patient, dentist, dental assistant and technologist, should wear a lead apron which will provide safety from the potential over-exposure to radiation.
The standards for safety are set by the National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) as to the maximum amount of radiation a person can receive without sustaining substantial harm. Because there are fluctuating degrees of sensitivity to the exposure to radiation, the actual risk to different parts of the body from an x-ray procedure can be unpredictable. For anyone who is not wearing a lead apron, the rule of thumb is that they should be at a minimum of six feet away from the x-ray source. The further away from the source, the chance of harmful exposure decreases.
The reason lead aprons are effective barriers against radiation exposure is that lead is very impenetrable and contains many atoms and electrons, which act as a shielding material against the x-ray photon. Time is also an important factor in an x-ray procedure. The dose of radiation received is directly equivalent to the amount of time spent in a radiation zone. Technologists, or anyone operating an x-ray machine in a dentist's office, should spend the shortest time possible to achieve their desired outcome.
Lead aprons come in deluxe, standard, economy, half aprons, and some are designed specifically for dental offices. They can be purchased in all types of fabrics, colors and styles. Some are designed to protect only the frontal part of the body; some protect the front and the back. There are surgical drop offs, meaning they can be taken off without disturbing the sterile field, weight relieving aprons because they can become burdensome if worn for a long time, pregnancy ones that are designed to protect the baby and many other styles to suit a variety of needs. They come with hook and loop closures, ties, belts, buckles and usually contain the equivalent of 0.5 mm of lead.
Over-exposure to radiation can be harmful. During any dental procedure that involves taking an x-ray, the persons involved should be protected with a lead apron and other people should be positioned a minimum of six feet or more from the source.
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Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about lead apron, please visit http://www.burmed.com
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