Okay I'm all in a panic here, as usual!! My eight year old had a panoramic x-ray today of her teeth. She had to face the machine and rest her chin on a ledge and bite something. They put the lead apron on the BACK of her. What was the point of that?? Isn't the camera going across the FRONT of her? Shouldn't the apron have been on the front? Has she been harmed?? All those organs were exposed! Liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, lungs....I did ask if it was supposed to be on the front and the lady said no, the back. But I wish I had questioned that and had her explain WHY, because now I am second guessing it all and feeling that sick feeling that comes when you've messed up as a parent and possibly ruined your child's life!

By Pamt on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 06:16 pm:

Okay Kate---deep breaths in and out, in and out. Feel better? I'm not an xray tech or radiologist, but I have been around lots of xray equipment when I used to do videofluoroscopic swallow studies in the hospital. I really don't understand why they put the apron on her back. A true lead apron actually goes over the head and covers the front and back. However, that said, there is such a small amount of radiation in an oral xray and it is aimed at her mouth anyway, that you have NOTHING to worry about. I accidentally did a swallow study when I was pregnant and didn't know yet and I worried. I did have on a lead apron, but still worried and everything was fine and it was much higher levels of radiation. Next time I would ask why they covered her back, but nothing to worry about. You didn't ruin her life or cause irreparable damage.

By Texannie on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 06:17 pm:

I really think the brief amount of exposure is nothing to worry about. They really do it more for the attorneys' sake than the patient. It was never done when I was growing up, and I don't glow or anything! ;)

By Mommyathome on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 11:45 pm:

Ditto

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 01:51 am:

Ditto!! I had X Rays done late in my pregnancy for an abcessed tooth. They put 2 aprons on me as a precaution, but said it really isn't THAT big of a deal for an average person.