The entire period of waiting for the baby to be born is a responsible and exciting time. Every action of the expectant mother should be performed with an eye on her position. This applies to your daily routine, exercise, and nutrition. Medical interventions, taking medications, as well as various types of diagnostic examinations were also no exception.
One of the most common diagnostic methods, which causes a considerable amount of controversy regarding its harmlessness, is x-ray examination. You cannot do without it in many cases of dental practice. So is it possible or not to take an x-ray during pregnancy and how safe is this procedure for the baby that the woman is carrying?
X-ray and pregnancy
What is an X-ray examination? During the procedure, the examined area is illuminated with X-rays and violations of the tissue structure and bone position are determined. The obtained data is recorded on film. In this way, an X-ray is obtained that displays what is inaccessible to the human eye during visual inspection.
But X-rays also have a downside. X-ray radiation negatively affects cells, destroying them from the inside. Cells that are in the process of dividing are especially susceptible to this effect - the latter can mutate or stop dividing altogether. During pregnancy, active growth and development of tiny life occurs in the mother's womb, cell division occurs constantly. How to conduct research in this case?
X-ray in the first weeks of pregnancy
The 1st trimester is the time when a new person is born and formed. This is the most responsible and important period: the baby’s nervous system is formed already from the 1st week, from the 4th to the 8th week the heart, adrenal glands and thymus gland are formed, and in the 11th week – the bone marrow. Therefore, interference in the natural development of a tiny person can have the most negative consequences at the genetic level, which can manifest themselves after the birth of the baby. The opinion of doctors in this case is unanimous - it is better to exclude x-rays in the early stages of pregnancy. The high probability of mutations at the cellular level can lead to serious pathologies in the future. The exception is emergency situations, when the lack of intervention may have more severe consequences than the harm from exposure to x-rays. The restriction applies to all types of radiation, including dental x-rays.
However, do not despair if the study was carried out before or immediately after a missed period. In most cases, when performing an X-ray during early pregnancy, the “all or nothing” rule works - either the baby’s development continues safely and the pregnancy proceeds as usual, or the fetus freezes.
X-ray in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy
Pregnancy develops, and mommy and her baby move into the 2nd, and then into the 3rd trimester. During this period, the baby’s body systems grow and improve. If an x-ray is still necessary, but in the first trimester it was decided to postpone it, it’s time to return to this issue.
There is no need to talk about absolute safety, but now x-rays during pregnancy are less dangerous and the likelihood of negative consequences is reduced. To prevent the baby from receiving harmful radiation during the examination, the woman’s stomach is covered with a lead apron. Do not be shy and silently follow doctors’ instructions.
It would be better if the woman asks the radiologist about the radiation dose she will receive during the X-ray. By choosing a clinic with modern equipment, you will receive little radiation exposure and high-quality images.
What are the advantages of x-rays?
Despite such serious consequences of x-ray, it remains the main method of diagnosing the condition of the body in case of dislocations, fractures and other types of research. The thing is that in order to get the side effects described above, you need to take pictures of the whole body at least 200 times in a row. In modern devices, the radiation dose received by the patient is relatively small and safe for his health. But it is still not recommended to do x-rays more than once a year, unless there is an urgent need for it.
Its main advantages:
- as a rule, no special preparation of the patient is required before the study;
- it can be done in almost any clinic or emergency room;
- relatively inexpensive cost of research;
- the quality of the images obtained during the study does not depend on the professionalism of the doctor performing the study (unlike ultrasound);
- the image is obtained immediately at the end of shooting;
- a high degree of detail in the image allows you to impartially assess the condition of the body;
- The method is not traumatic, no diagnostic incisions are required.
X-rays have a number of limitations:
- it is impossible to obtain a detailed image of soft tissues;
- the image is static, there is no way to evaluate the work of the organ in dynamics;
- Contrast is required for better visualization of the body parts being examined.
If other research methods are not suitable for detecting pathologies, the woman is sent for an x-ray.
Dental treatment: X-rays during pregnancy
To treat or not to treat
As for the health of teeth and the entire oral cavity, each person should keep this issue under constant control. A diseased tooth not only causes discomfort, but also becomes a source of infection, leading to the development of sepsis, which is extremely undesirable for a pregnant woman. As a result of an X-ray during pregnancy, the consequences will be much less fatal. If you dream of having a new family member, then a visit to the dentist should be made even before you see the 2 coveted stripes, so that with the onset of pregnancy you do not expose your body to unnecessary influences and interventions.
Pregnancy and dental x-ray
Before your dental image is taken, the radiologist will wear a protective apron, which will minimize the exposure of other parts of your body to harmful rays. Despite this, many women “in a special situation” are worried about whether it is possible to do a dental x-ray during pregnancy and how safe it will be for the baby?
The radiation dose that a woman receives when she takes a dental photograph using an X-ray machine is 0.02 mSv. Exposure of no more than 1 mSv over 2 months can be considered relatively benign. If possible, it is better to give preference to a visiograph. A modern device will irradiate an exclusively diseased tooth with a narrow beam and with a lower intensity - 0.002 units of measurement (mSv). Therefore, if an X-ray of a tooth during pregnancy is necessary for treatment, you should not categorically refuse it, especially since there are relatively safe ways to perform this manipulation.
Is it possible to take dental photographs of pregnant women?
Dentists and scientists have not yet come to a consensus on whether pregnant women can undergo X-rays.
First of all, you need to figure out which device will be used to take the picture.
If we are talking about a Soviet radiographer and the degree of radiation, then, of course, the procedure will have to be abandoned. Such a device can deliver a radiation dose of 1 rad, which is considered dangerous for fetal development in 5% of cases.
Modern visiographs (dental X-ray devices) allow you to look at the condition of your teeth relatively safely. After all, the dentist is not clairvoyant and cannot make a diagnosis based solely on visual tissue changes. Most problems come from internal inflammatory processes, destroyed roots, and caries can even develop inside the filling.
It is believed that the beam of an electronic radiovisiograph is aimed clearly at a specific area (gums, tooth, periodontium, etc.), without irradiating neighboring areas. Such a beam does not penetrate deep into the body, much less into the uterine cavity, and therefore does not pose any threat to the health of the child. In addition, the expectant mother receives microdoses of radiation (for a split second), which coincide with the normal radiation background of the environment. Even if you have to take several images of different teeth or even the entire oral cavity, the radiation dose will be no more than 0.0001 rad. Modern visiographs allow you to work with the oral cavity even without special protection.
It is known that exposure to the rays of the summer sun is more dangerous than taking an image using a modern X-ray.
Also remember that a properly taken x-ray allows you to simplify and speed up the dentist’s work significantly, as well as perform it efficiently in one session. This, in turn, will avoid the use of additional anesthesia when treating serious inflammation.
X-ray of the torso and limbs during pregnancy
The closer the examined area is to the organs of the reproductive system, the greater the impact the latter are exposed to. Therefore, studies with minimal risk include x-rays of the tooth, nose, and fingers. In second place were irradiations of the extremities, thoracic and cervical spine, and lungs. And the most dangerous are x-rays of the lumbar spine, as well as internal organs located in the abdominal cavity.
An X-ray of the lungs during pregnancy is a necessary measure, which is resorted to when a woman is suspected of having pneumonia. In this case, the consequences of refusing the examination can be sad. For women “in a special situation,” examinations of the second and third groups are carried out exclusively for health reasons and in cases where there is no alternative to this diagnostic method.
Pregnancy planning and x-rays
Examinations and preventive examinations often include x-rays. In addition, a sudden toothache may also be followed by a dental x-ray. What should one do in such cases who is planning a baby? How dangerous is x-ray when planning pregnancy?
In this case, the examination does not pose any danger as such, because there is no pregnancy yet. But it can happen, and no one will say for sure what effect the X-rays had on the egg, or whether there was any effect at all. To avoid unnecessary worry and anxiety, it is recommended to skip the cycle in which the woman was exposed to radiation. As for future dads, this period increases to three months. This is due to the sperm renewal period – 72 days. If irradiation does occur, and pregnancy occurs after the x-ray, it is better for the woman to consult a doctor for detailed advice. Tell your doctor about the test being performed and the dose of radiation you were exposed to so that the doctor can assess the degree of possible risks and tell the expectant mother about it. During an X-ray of a tooth, there is practically no impact on other organs and systems. If during this period a new person has settled in the woman’s womb, then the likelihood of a negative impact on him is minimal.
Indications for X-rays in expectant mothers
Radiography is one of the methods of radiation diagnostics, which allows one to detect a number of pathologies using an image. Most often, such a study is necessary for a bone fracture or suspicion of one, suspected pneumonia or tuberculosis, or during dental treatment. All these situations can arise in a pregnant woman, for this reason, during the gestation period, the use of X-rays is allowed (at the same time, fluorography - hard irradiation of the chest, as well as examination of bones and organs in X-rays - is prohibited).
The operating principle of X-rays is based on the unique ability of rays to penetrate through less dense tissues and be retained by more dense ones. An outline of the latter appears in the resulting image.
A pregnant woman may need an x-ray, for example, if pneumonia is suspected.
Medical restrictions regarding x-rays during gestation are due to the potential negative impact of the device’s radiation on the developing fetus. However, the decision on the advisability of carrying out this procedure during gestation is made primarily based on the possible consequences for women’s health: in some situations, it is simply impossible to make a diagnosis without an image, which can lead to a sharp deterioration in the condition. This issue is addressed in the official medical document - SanPiN 2.6.1.1192–03.
7.16. Pregnant women are prescribed for X-ray examination only according to clinical indications. Studies should, if possible, be carried out in the second half of pregnancy, with the exception of cases when the issue of termination of pregnancy or the need for emergency or emergency care must be decided.
SanPin 2.6.1.1192–03
https://docs.cntd.ru/document/901854044
In addition, the degree of risk depends on the study area - its proximity to the pregnant woman’s abdomen. Thus, irradiation of the limbs or head is less dangerous. But irradiation of the pelvic area already carries a great risk and is carried out only if there are serious indications that threaten the patient’s life.
Video: principle of operation of X-rays
Rules for conducting x-ray examinations during pregnancy
Every woman of reproductive age should know several important rules when undergoing an x-ray:
- When performing the examination, it is mandatory to wear lead pads (or an apron) or use a protective screen. This precaution will “hide” other organs from electromagnetic waves.
- If exposed to a dose of 100 mSv or more during an X-ray during pregnancy, it is necessary to warn the woman about possible serious pathologies in the child and consider the advisability of terminating the pregnancy.
- If a woman is in the planning stage of pregnancy and there is a possibility that the latter has occurred, one should start from the fact that conception has occurred.
- When going for an x-ray, always warn the doctor and radiologist that you are “in a position.”
- Try to use alternative diagnostic methods.
So, is it possible to take x-rays during pregnancy? Yes. Is this procedure harmless and safe? No. Take care of your health and undergo timely treatment so that the weeks of waiting for your baby will bring you nothing but joy.
