Radiation Exposure and Dental Xrays

Dental X-Rays May Be Linked to Benign Brain Tumors

People who underwent frequent dental Xrays in the past, before radiation doses were lowered, may be at greater risk of a usually benign form of tumor in the lining of the brain, a new study suggests.

Dental X-Rays and Risk of Meningioma

Ionizing radiation is a consistently identified and potentially modifiable risk factor for meningioma, which is the most frequently reported primary brain tumor in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the association between dental x-rays—the most common artificial source of ionizing radiation—and the risk of intracranial meningioma.

Rebuttal to the Cancer Journal study: Dental X-rays and Risk of Meningioma The article “Dental X-rays and Risk of Meningioma” by Elizabeth Claus, MD, PhD, et al, is just another in a series of sensationalist, inflammatory articles on therapeutic radiation and in this case, dental radiation. It grabs great headlines but totally lacking in true science.

HEALTH PHYSICS SOCIETY FACT SHEET: Radiation Exposure from Medical Diagnostic Imaging Procedures

Physicians and technologists performing these procedures are trained to use the minimum amount of radiation necessary for the procedure. Benefits from the medical procedure greatly outweigh any potential small risk of harm from the amount of radiation used.