Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and
gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn
department at the University of California, Los
Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor
to national health agencies on women's health issues and has
received numerous international honors for this work.
Your Baby Today is proud to feature this expert Q&A with Dr.
Pitkin. New questions and answers will be added to this page
regularly. If you have any questions for Dr. Pitkin, please write to
him at pitkin@yourbabytoday.com. While Dr. Pitkin cannot
respond to each individual inquiry, we will post answers to the
most commonly asked questions here.
Q:How safe are dental X-rays during pregnancy?
A: It's not clear whether dental X-rays are safe to get during
pregnancy. Since no one knows what level of radiation is safe, or how much (if any) risk to your unborn baby comes with a given dose, the most prudent approach is to postpone elective X-rays (i.e., those for which there is no specific indication) until after your baby's birth.
However, if there is an acute problem and dental X-rays are important in making a diagnosis and deciding proper treatment, then they should be done because of their importance in promoting a woman's overall health. To help reduce the amount of radiation your body receives, the technician will cover your stomach with a lead apron, a standard practice for anyone receiving X-rays.
Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and
gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn
department at the University of California, Los
Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor
to national health agencies on women's health issues and has
received numerous international honors for this work.
