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How unsafe are X-rays?
I'm a Dental hygienist and of course need to take X-rays on my pts on a daily basis. I just informed my boss about my pregnancy today and he said that after my 3 months I should be able to take occasional X-rays and it will be completely safe. I of course don't agree with that but wanted a little more information. I do have a friend that's a dental assistant and took occasional X-rays during her 2 pregnancies and had no problem thank God! But I don't know of I'm willing to risk the health of my baby just to make it more convenient for my boss.
He also mentioned a decrease in my pay since I'm not going to be able to take X-rays neither see patients that need nitrous. I told him that would be a separate conversation because I'm not comfortable with that. It doesn't seem legal or fair. I'll appreciate your comments ladies!
He also mentioned a decrease in my pay since I'm not going to be able to take X-rays neither see patients that need nitrous. I told him that would be a separate conversation because I'm not comfortable with that. It doesn't seem legal or fair. I'll appreciate your comments ladies!
@ourdestiny: you're welcome!
& yes, it is safe. I wouldn't ask my own doctor or dentist for an x-ray if it wasn't safe or would potentially harm my child, and I'm pretty sure it's safe considering I went to school for it, studied, and the x-rays I've given are a LOT stronger than any dental x-ray.. it's just way overrated.
do what you feel is right/best, but from a medical standpoint, from someone who knows about x-rays, through & through, it's safe. good luck! (((:
& yes, it is safe. I wouldn't ask my own doctor or dentist for an x-ray if it wasn't safe or would potentially harm my child, and I'm pretty sure it's safe considering I went to school for it, studied, and the x-rays I've given are a LOT stronger than any dental x-ray.. it's just way overrated.
do what you feel is right/best, but from a medical standpoint, from someone who knows about x-rays, through & through, it's safe. good luck! (((:
I am a dental assistant since 12 years it is not safe to do x-rays not even to be in the treatment room on the chair side.
I don't know which country you live in, but to decrease your pay during your pregnancy would in most countries be illegal.
If an employee becomes unfit to perform certain tasks within their work it is the employeers responsibility to find a solution for this.
Esspecially when it is a limited time period.
Consult your doctor and they can issue a doctors note what you can or cannot do.
I think all of this sounds strange and illegal and wouldn't accept any of it.
If you can, go above your boss.
Good luck hun!
If an employee becomes unfit to perform certain tasks within their work it is the employeers responsibility to find a solution for this.
Esspecially when it is a limited time period.
Consult your doctor and they can issue a doctors note what you can or cannot do.
I think all of this sounds strange and illegal and wouldn't accept any of it.
If you can, go above your boss.
Good luck hun!
Oh that's good to hear!! I thought they get worse with time! I need to start thinking of those prenatal massages, I'm sure they will be life saving for me too. I'm having twins!
Thank you for all that info! Now I'll definitely feel more safe!
Up until about 14weeks I had the same pressure, but I just did a lot of stretches in between patients, and adjusted the patient more so I wasnt getting in too awkward of a position. Also, I use the cavitron more to help with how long my patients are in the chair. After about 14 weeks it went away,and I have felt amazing! I do get prenatal massages 1x monthly also which is a life saver!!
Im a dental hygienist first trimester its not safe ..but my boss didnt want me taking xrays so he gave me a assistant... and nvr lowered my pay..don't let them do that to u..I wouldn't put baby at risk I also used a badge to measure exposure dex
you do have rights though.. you shouldn't be forced to do anything. at least request lead shielding if that'll make you feel better.. absolutely no radiation can get through that. ((:
a cat (CT) scan is not the same as a dental x-ray.. my mother wasn't allowed in the room when I had to have a CT scan either, and she definitely wasn't pregnant. that's just a general rule.. no one else is allowed to be in the room, it's unnecessary.
it is safe. it's totally safe.. IT'S TOTALLY SAAAAFFFFEEE! geez! lol
a lawyer knows the law, a farmer knows a farm, and I know x-rays.. they're safe. I promise. (((((:
it is safe. it's totally safe.. IT'S TOTALLY SAAAAFFFFEEE! geez! lol
a lawyer knows the law, a farmer knows a farm, and I know x-rays.. they're safe. I promise. (((((:
I'm pretty sure your employer has a *duty to accommodate, especially given the nature of work. You should look into your Province or State's Human Rights Commission for more information; where I live, that could be a potential lawsuit. Know your rights!!
My daughter needed an cat scan and they wouldnt even let me be in the room while she got it done.. And I was only 8 or 9 weeks.. And those were doctors telling me that. I don't think its safe.
oh, PLUS the fact that x-rays have gone digital.. it's basically nothing. I begged my dentist to take x-rays at my last visit, she didn't see the need, BUT I have to go back in a week or so & I told her that I was demanding the x-rays because I KNOW there's no harm done and they are necessary.. I have 3 cavities she's got to fix & she's going to make sure she gets them all!!! lol
If you're properly shielded then it is safe. I work with live xray and as long as i wear appropriate lead or stand behind a shield, it's safe. I now wear a radiation dosimeter under my lead to measure exactly the amount that is reaching baby. The hospital monitors this to keep it under a safe amount. My ob said that the only people they take off work for radiation exposure are pilots! Apparently the radiation exposure in the cockpit is very high and unacceptable in pregnancy. Good luck mama!
I'm an x-ray tech. & they are NOT as serious as people make them out to be.. a chest x-ray is equivalent to laying in the bright sun for 30 min. or more as far as radiation goes..
a dental x-ray is way less than that! x-ray is measured in mas & kvp.. 2 things that you have to have a lot of, over, and over, and over, and over, etc.! it's really hard to explain... but with you being behind a barrier, even wearing a lead apron if your boss doesn't mind it, you or your baby will literally receive no radiation.. x-ray doesn't bounce off of walls or anything.
it just doesn't work the way people assume.. I just want to assure you that you're okay! I'm 25, been taking x-rays since I was 18 or 19 when I started school.. no harm done, plus I've had numerous taken of myself. ((((:
a dental x-ray is way less than that! x-ray is measured in mas & kvp.. 2 things that you have to have a lot of, over, and over, and over, and over, etc.! it's really hard to explain... but with you being behind a barrier, even wearing a lead apron if your boss doesn't mind it, you or your baby will literally receive no radiation.. x-ray doesn't bounce off of walls or anything.
it just doesn't work the way people assume.. I just want to assure you that you're okay! I'm 25, been taking x-rays since I was 18 or 19 when I started school.. no harm done, plus I've had numerous taken of myself. ((((:
Is nice to hear from another hygienist! I told him I agree to take X-rays after my 3 months if no assistant is available but I don't want to risk it now.
How are you feeling working the way we work,,,meaning our seating position. I'm feeling so much pressure on my uterus/ovary area all day! I'm thinking is because the way we sit or at least I do with my legs spread out to be able to adjust to the patent chair. Any recommendations?
How are you feeling working the way we work,,,meaning our seating position. I'm feeling so much pressure on my uterus/ovary area all day! I'm thinking is because the way we sit or at least I do with my legs spread out to be able to adjust to the patent chair. Any recommendations?
Thank you so much ladies! I was so upset today all day because of this! We'll see what happens in our next conversation. I would gladly accept less hours since I would like to start working less anyway but not a cut on my pay. I'm very productive without the need to take X-rays!
****** jerk! Decreasing your pay? Idiot, they make so much money but oh they can't spare a few bucks. Plus it sounds ilegal. Anyway, I just wouldn't do it to be safe.if needed, I'd get a Dr's note to prove my point.
I actually had a dental exray when I was 13 wks. My doctor approved it without hesitation. As a hygienist you arnt being rxrayed along with your patient's. Just talk to your ob.
As long as you are standing behind a barrier or the recommended 6ft away you should be fine to take xrays. I am also a dental hygienist, and currently 28+4.I work full time and take xrays all day long and have a healthy baby so far! I don't know your state laws, but in Kentucky, termination/decrease in pay can be without notice or reason unless a contract was signed prior to employment. If you are really concerned about the exposure maybe ask your doctor about getting you a badge to wear that you send off quartly to make sure you have not been exposed and the office is safe?
Maybe think about being approved for medical leave if he's really unfair to you.
I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Get a doctor's note excusing you from certain work. He can't cut your pay, maybe hours depending on how it's scheduled. You should really go online and look up women's rights in your state, of you're uncomfortable and your doctor is on your side then you shouldn't have to do it
My older sister has 4 kids and with the first two worked as a dental hygienist. She worked her entire pregnancies, took x rays and all that and no harm done. She said it was more prolonged exposure to tge radiation. But talk to your ob/gyn for further confermation.
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